Laura Anne Jones says net zero focus is driving up bills and harming energy security

A REFORM UK Senedd Member has called for a major shift in Wales’ energy strategy, urging ministers to prioritise nuclear power during a heated exchange in the Senedd.

Laura Anne Jones, Regional Member for South Wales East, used the final First Minister’s Questions of the current term to challenge the Welsh Government’s approach, warning that current policies risk increasing costs for households and businesses.

She told the chamber that Wales needs energy which is “affordable, reliable and secure for the long term,” adding that an overemphasis on net zero targets was having unintended consequences.

Ms Jones said: “For too long, Welsh energy policy has been driven by ideological Net Zero targets imposed without regard to cost, reliability, rural impact, or democratic consent.”

Calling for a change in direction, she argued that nuclear power should play a central role in the country’s future energy mix.

“A Reform Welsh Government will act as an active enabler of nuclear development, not a passive bystander or a blocker,” she said. “We will work constructively with Westminster and fast-track infrastructure.”

She also criticised opposition to nuclear projects, claiming it could delay developments seen as vital to national energy security.

“We will not allow ideological opposition by Plaid to frustrate or halt nationally important nuclear developments,” she added, warning that current policies were “bringing our Welsh economy to its knees.”

Energy debate intensifies

The comments come amid growing political debate over how Wales balances its net zero commitments with concerns over energy costs and security.

The Welsh Government has consistently defended its strategy, arguing that investment in renewable energy and decarbonisation is essential to tackle climate change while creating long-term economic opportunities.

Ministers have also pointed to the UK Government’s role in nuclear policy, with major projects and funding decisions largely reserved to Westminster.

However, critics argue that rising energy prices and global instability are exposing weaknesses in current approaches, with calls for a broader mix of energy sources gaining traction.

Ms Jones said she would continue to press for what she described as a “common sense” approach, focused on lowering bills, supporting jobs and ensuring long-term energy security for Wales.

Independent candidate says five-year delay is “simply not good enough”

AN INDEPENDENT Senedd candidate has called for urgent action to restart progress on the long-promised reopening of St Clears railway station.

Carl Peters-Bond, who is standing in Caerfyrddin and also serves as Mayor of Kidwelly, has urged the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales to finally deliver on commitments first made more than five years ago.

The station, located on the West Wales line between Carmarthen and Whitland, was closed in 1964 as part of the Beeching cuts, which saw widespread reductions to the UK rail network. Its reopening has been the subject of local campaigns for decades, with supporters arguing it would reconnect rural communities to the national rail system.

In 2020, the project secured funding through the UK Government’s New Stations Fund, with Carmarthenshire County Council leading initial development work. The announcement was widely welcomed as a significant step towards improving transport links in west Wales.

However, despite early progress including feasibility studies and design work, the scheme has yet to move into construction. No confirmed timetable for delivery has been published.

Carl Peters-Bond said: “People in Carmarthenshire were told in 2020 that St Clears station was coming back. Five years on, we have vision documents, glossy strategies and endless consultations, but not a single shovel in the ground. It’s simply not good enough.”

He contrasted the delay with major transport investment elsewhere, adding: “While hundreds of millions are being invested in Cardiff and the Valleys through the Metro, and billions have gone into HS2, still labelled as ‘England and Wales’ infrastructure, communities like ours are left waiting.

“Carmarthenshire deserves its fair share of investment, and St Clears station should be at the front of the queue.”

Supporters of the scheme say a reopened station could help reduce reliance on cars along the busy A40, while improving access to employment, education and healthcare for residents in surrounding rural areas. It is also seen as an opportunity to boost tourism by making west Wales more accessible by rail.

Carl added: “Transport for Wales talks about improving connectivity in West Wales, but plans do not get people to work, school or hospital. Trains do. It is time for delivery, not more documents.”

As part of his campaign, he has pledged to push for a clear timetable, hold decision-makers to account on delays, and press for greater investment in the county’s transport network.

He added: “Carmarthenshire has waited long enough. If elected, I will make sure St Clears station is not forgotten again. Our communities deserve action, not another decade of promises.”

New chairman Scott Thorley launches volunteer drive ahead of May Senedd election

REFORM UK is moving quickly to build its presence in west Wales following its breakthrough win in the Hakin by-election, with newly elected councillor Scott Thorley announcing plans to mobilise supporters across Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Thorley, who was elected last week as Reform’s first representative on Pembrokeshire County Council, has now taken on the role of Chairman for the party’s Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion branch.

In a message sent to supporters, he said the party’s immediate focus is on preparing for the Senedd election on Thursday (May 7), with a strong emphasis on grassroots campaigning.

“Our top priority right now – and the single most important thing we can do – is to gather voter intentions,” he said.

“That means getting out there, knocking on doors, and simply asking people: ‘Who do you intend to vote for in May’s Senedd election?’”

Thorley said responses would be recorded using the party’s ReformGo app, allowing campaigners to identify supporters, target undecided voters and build momentum ahead of polling day.

Volunteer hubs planned across the region

As part of the strategy, Reform UK is setting up a network of local “volunteer hubs” across towns and rural areas, aimed at coordinating canvassing activity and sharing campaign resources.

In Pembrokeshire, proposed hub locations include Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, Pembroke, Tenby, Fishguard, Narberth, Neyland, Saundersfoot, Newport and St Davids.

Similar hubs are planned across Ceredigion, including Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Aberaeron and New Quay.

Smaller “village cluster” groups are also being organised, linking rural communities to nearby town hubs to support coordinated campaigning.

Thorley said the aim is to make canvassing “straightforward and well-organised”, with volunteers meeting in informal settings such as homes, cafés, village halls and public spaces.

Momentum after by-election win

The announcement comes just days after Thorley’s surprise victory in Hakin, where he secured 179 votes in a low-turnout contest.

His win marked a significant milestone for Reform UK locally, giving the party its first foothold on Pembrokeshire County Council.

Despite being a late and relatively low-profile candidate, Thorley emerged ahead of a crowded field, with the result widely seen as a sign of growing support for Reform in parts of west Wales.

The party now appears keen to capitalise on that momentum by expanding its ground operation ahead of the Senedd election.

Focus on data and doorstep campaigning

Central to the campaign strategy is the collection of voter data through direct engagement, with volunteers encouraged to log conversations and voting intentions in real time.

Thorley emphasised that “every door counts”, urging supporters to get involved and help build what he described as a stronger position for the party ahead of May.

The move reflects a broader shift towards more organised, data-driven campaigning at local level, with Reform seeking to translate its by-election success into wider electoral gains.

Further updates on the party’s local campaign activity are expected in the coming weeks.