News

Farage pledges coal revival and steelworks comeback for Wales

Published

6 months ago

June 9, 2025

Reform leader eyes Senedd victory as critics blast ‘fantasy economics’

NIGEL FARAGE visited Port Talbot on Monday (June 10), promising to reopen the town’s steel blast furnaces and revive Welsh coal mines if Reform UK wins the next Senedd election.

Speaking shortly after noon, Farage placed traditional steel-making at the heart of Reform UK’s 2026 campaign in Wales, claiming the town had been “betrayed by 26 years of Labour rule.”

“Our long-term aim is to hopefully reopen Port Talbot steelworks—and instead of importing coal for it, use our own,” Farage told The Mail ahead of his speech.
“Wales needs Reform.”

The plan, which includes reopening domestic coal pits to fuel the blast furnaces, comes after Indian-owned Tata Steel confirmed plans to close both blast furnaces at the Port Talbot plant. The company is shifting to a lower-emission electric arc furnace, but this will not be operational until 2028 and will produce less steel overall—prompting warnings of up to 2,800 job losses.

Farage framed the proposal as an economic rescue mission and a patriotic industrial policy, aiming to outflank Labour on its traditional turf. His speech marks the latest escalation in Reform’s ambition to challenge for power at the 2026 Senedd election, with polls already placing the party above Labour in some regions.

But the proposal drew immediate fire from opposition politicians.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds MS accused Farage of peddling fantasy politics while ignoring international realities.

“Nigel Farage has some real cheek to come to Port Talbot and promise them the world while his best mate Donald Trump is threatening to destroy the remnants of our steel industry, with yet more tariffs at the end of this month,” she said.

“Like his idols, Donald Trump and Liz Truss, Nigel Farage would wreck the Welsh economy and local services with unfunded tax cuts and the hollowing out of public services.”

Dodds said that while many voters feel abandoned by both Labour in Cardiff and the Conservatives in Westminster, it is the Liberal Democrats who offer realistic local change, especially in health and education.

“In a recent by-election in Neath Port Talbot, we easily beat Reform and pushed Labour into fourth place,” she added. “Industrial heartlands aren’t buying what Reform is selling.”

Nigel Farage’s calls for Port Talbot’s blast furnaces to be reopened are ‘more lies from an opportunistic chancer’, GMB union has said.

Ruth Brady, GMB Regional Secretary, told The Pembrokeshire Herald in a sharply worded statement exactly what he thought of the plan: “The people of Port Talbot will see this for what it is: more lies from this opportunistic chancer.

“Nigel Farage was happy to let British Steel go to the wall.

“He’ll trot out any line when the cameras are rolling. He doesn’t care about steel communities or steel workers.

“The deal to shut the blast furnaces was signed and sealed by the last Tory government.

“With the opportunities offered by floating offshore wind and the industrial clusters strategy, it’s now time for the Labour government to make good on their promises to our members in Port Talbot.

“We’ll be watching the spending review this week closely.”

Farage’s visit comes just days after party turmoil saw Zia Yusuf resign as Reform chairman, only to return two days later in a redefined leadership role. Monday’s rally was seen as an attempt by Farage to reset the campaign and reassert his party’s direction.

The promise to reopen coal mines will be controversial in Wales, where the last deep coal mine closed in 2008, and the environmental legacy of mining remains raw in many communities. Environmental campaigners have previously warned that such proposals ignore climate commitments and the long-term shift to greener energy.

However, supporters at the rally welcomed the focus on jobs and national self-reliance. Local resident Martin Davies, 58, told The Herald: “We’ve had enough of broken promises. If someone’s talking about proper work and not just cutting back all the time, I’ll listen.”

Farage ended his speech by warning voters not to let “the political establishment shut Wales down from the inside out,” and said Reform would “bring energy, jobs and pride back to this country.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

Coal comeback: Nigel Farage delivers a speech in Port Talbot promising to revive steel and mining if Reform wins in 2026 (Pic: Farage/Reform/X)

Local Government

Pembrokeshire Council faces backlash over £2.5m housing ‘buying spree’

Published

14 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Critics say policy inflates numbers while new-build programme stalls

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is under growing pressure over its multi-million-pound programme of buying back former council houses, with critics warning that the strategy gives the illusion of progress while long-promised new-builds remain stuck on the drawing board.

The latest criticism comes from Haverfordwest councillor Mike Stoddart, who has accused the authority of “standing still” by funnelling Housing Revenue Account (HRA) cash into purchasing properties that were once part of the council’s own stock. In an email to fellow councillor Tom Sinclair, seen by this newspaper, Stoddart said the council’s approach “doesn’t increase the housing stock – it merely moves people from the private sector into the public sector”.

He added: “It would be much better if the money was spent on building anew.”

A temporary fix that became permanent

The buy-back scheme began in 2017 when the council adopted a new inflation-linked rent regime that delivered sizeable HRA surpluses. At the time, officers described buying ex-council homes on the open market as a “stop-gap” measure until the new-build programme ramped up.

But that programme has repeatedly faltered. Major schemes in Johnston and Tiers Cross have been hit by cost overruns of around 66%. In Milford Haven, new flats on Charles Street are costing close to £300,000 each for a one- or two-bed unit, before adding land costs, architects’ fees and planning expenses.

***Unhappy with the council’s home-buying spree: Cllr Mike Stoddart***

Stoddart said the pattern amounted to a “disaster”, arguing that buying existing homes had become the authority’s default option. “It gives the impression of making progress while actually standing still,” he said.

Brownfield sites left idle

In Stoddart’s own ward, three former school sites have stood empty since 2018. Their redevelopment is not expected to begin until 2027 or 2028. Meanwhile, the council’s purchasing programme has accelerated.

A Cabinet report for late 2025 shows more than £2.5 million spent on acquisitions in just the first half of the year.

The most striking deal was a bulk purchase of five homes in Harcourt Close, Hook, for £1.851 million — almost £400,000 each. Stoddart said the developer would think “all his birthdays have come at once”, with the council avoiding estate agents’ fees, reducing legal costs and allowing the seller to immediately stop paying interest to the bank.

Thirteen high-value purchases

All properties were bought for over £100,000 and moved into the council’s HRA stock:

Address	Location	Price	Completion
32 Southdown Close	Pembroke	£115,000	29/07/2025
8 Hyfrydle	Letterston	£115,000	01/08/2025
6 Precelly Place	Milford Haven	£120,000	22/09/2025
50 Heywood Court	Tenby	£125,000	02/10/2025
33 Croft Avenue	Hakin, Milford Haven	£130,000	20/10/2025
7 Hyfrydle	Letterston	£135,000	05/09/2025
18 St Clements Park	Freystrop	£140,000	14/07/2025
55 College Park	Neyland	£140,000	28/10/2025
26 Baring Gould Way	Haverfordwest	£146,000	15/08/2025
25 Station Road	Letterston	£170,000	10/10/2025
16 Woodlands Crescent	Milford Haven	£283,000	31/10/2025
26 & 27 Harcourt Close	Hook	£744,000	22/10/2025
23, 24 & 25 Harcourt Close	Hook	£1,107,000	30/07/2025

All purchases were made from HRA reserves with no borrowing, a point the council highlights as prudent financial management.

Fears over market distortion

Stoddart also warned that the authority’s deep pockets may be pricing out young families by outbidding first-time buyers for entry-level homes. “If classical economic theory is to be believed, it’s forcing up the price,” he said.

House prices in Pembrokeshire have risen around 15% in the past year, according to recent ONS data. Local estate agents, speaking anonymously, told this newspaper that council intervention “definitely nudges prices upward” in hotspots like Hook, Neyland and Milford Haven.

Council defends strategy

A council spokesperson said the approach was necessary to deliver homes “immediately” amid chronic shortages.

“Acquiring existing properties allows us to respond quickly to housing need,” they said. “New-builds remain a priority, but delays in planning, construction and funding mean we must use all available tools to meet demand. All purchases represent value for money and are compliant with our HRA strategy.”

Housing charity Shelter Cymru took a different view, arguing that “recycling stock is not a substitute for expansion”. The charity says Pembrokeshire needs around 500 new affordable homes a year to meet demand.

‘Residents deserve homes, not headaches’

Social housing waiting lists in Pembrokeshire now exceed 2,000 applicants. With another Cabinet briefing due later this month, Stoddart says he will push for a fundamental rethink.

“It’s time to stop standing still,” he told this newspaper. “Our residents deserve homes, not headaches.”

News

Angle RNLI launch stood down after false distress beacon alert

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ANGLE RNLI were paged at 10:47am this morning after an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) was triggered on a local fishing vessel in the Dale Roads area.

Dale Coastguard Rescue Team was also tasked to investigate the alert.

As the lifeboat crew prepared to launch, further checks by HM Coastguard — along with direct contact from the vessel’s skipper — confirmed the beacon had been activated accidentally.

With no-one found to be in difficulty, the launch was cancelled.

Business

Cardiff Airport announces special Air France flights for Six Nations

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Direct services to Paris-Charles de Gaulle launched to cater for Welsh supporters, French fans and couples planning a Valentine’s getaway

CARDIFF AIRPORT and Air France have unveiled a series of special direct flights between Cardiff (CWL) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) scheduled for February 2026.

Timed to coincide with two major dates — the Wales v France Six Nations clash on Saturday 15 February and Valentine’s weekend — the flights are designed to offer supporters and holidaymakers an easy link between the two capitals.

For travelling French rugby fans, the services provide a straightforward route into Wales ahead of match day at the Principality Stadium, when Cardiff will once again be transformed by the colour, noise and passion that accompanies one of the tournament’s most eagerly awaited fixtures.

For Welsh passengers, the additional flights offer a seamless escape to Paris for Valentine’s Day, as well as opportunities for short breaks and onward travel via Air France’s wider global network.

Cardiff Airport CEO Jon Bridge said: “We’re thrilled to offer direct flights to such a vibrant and exciting city for Valentine’s weekend. Cardiff Airport is expanding its reach and giving customers fantastic travel options. We’ve listened to passenger demand and are delighted to make this opportunity possible. There is more to come from Cardiff.”

Tickets are already on sale via the Air France website and through travel agents.

Special flight schedule

Paris (CDG) → Cardiff (CWL):