THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have launched their manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, promising tax cuts, major road investment and what the party says will be a fresh start for Wales after more than two decades of Labour-led government.

Party leader Darren Millar unveiled the manifesto, titled “Fix Wales”, earlier this week, setting out the Conservatives’ proposals for government if they win power in the Senedd election on Thursday (May 7).

The party says the plan is focused on economic growth, lower taxes and improvements to public services including the NHS.

Tax cuts and cost of living

One of the headline pledges in the manifesto is a proposed one-penny cut in the basic rate of income tax in Wales.

The Conservatives say the move would help ease pressure on household finances and boost economic growth.

The manifesto also promises to introduce a five per cent cap on council tax increases, with any higher rises requiring a public referendum.

Business rates reform and measures aimed at supporting small businesses also feature prominently in the party’s economic plans.

Road projects and infrastructure

Transport investment forms another key part of the manifesto.

The Welsh Conservatives say they would move forward with plans to build an M4 relief road around Newport, a long-debated project which was cancelled by the Welsh Government in 2019.

The party also says it would invest in improving major routes across Wales and prioritise infrastructure projects designed to support economic growth.

Housing and home ownership

The manifesto also includes plans aimed at increasing home ownership.

Conservatives say they would restore the Right to Buy scheme in Wales, allowing council tenants to purchase their homes.

The party also proposes scrapping Welsh stamp duty on main homes, which it argues would help more people onto the property ladder.

NHS and public services

Healthcare remains a major focus of the election campaign.

The Conservatives say their plans would aim to reduce NHS waiting times and improve access to healthcare services across Wales.

They have also pledged to invest in hospital infrastructure and strengthen digital systems within the health service.

‘Time to fix Wales’

Speaking at the launch, Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said the manifesto offered a clear alternative after what he described as years of underperformance by the Welsh Government.

He said: “After more than 25 years of Labour running Wales, too many public services are struggling and people feel that the country is being held back.

“Our plan will cut taxes, boost growth and deliver the change Wales needs.”

Election battle intensifies

The manifesto launch comes as political parties across Wales ramp up campaigning ahead of the Senedd election in May.

Labour has governed Wales since the creation of the Senedd in 1999, but opposition parties hope growing dissatisfaction with public services and the cost of living could reshape the political landscape.

With Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and Reform UK all seeking to challenge Labour’s dominance, the election is expected to be one of the most closely contested since devolution began.

REFORM UK has launched its Welsh manifesto ahead of the May Senedd election, promising what party leaders describe as an “ambitious but realistic blueprint for change” in Wales.

The manifesto was unveiled on Thursday (Mar 5) at an event in Newport attended by Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

The insurgent party is attempting to position itself as a major challenger in the election, with recent polling suggesting a fragmented political landscape in which no party is guaranteed overall control of the Senedd.

Key policy pledges

Among the headline proposals is a pledge to scrap the default 20mph speed limit on residential roads introduced by the Welsh Government, a policy which has generated significant public debate across Wales.

Reform also promises to pursue major road projects including an M4 relief road around Newport and upgrades to the A55 in North Wales.

The party says it would also end the Welsh Government’s “Nation of Sanctuary” refugee policy and stop the use of hotels to house asylum seekers in Welsh communities.

Other proposals include prioritising local residents for social housing, reviewing business rates, and introducing a “tax lock” designed to prevent the introduction of new Welsh taxes.

On council tax, Reform says it would impose a five per cent referendum threshold, meaning larger increases would require public approval.

NHS and farming promises

Healthcare features heavily in the party’s programme, with pledges to cut waiting lists, end the practice of patients being treated in hospital corridors, and invest in digital infrastructure and hospital upgrades.

Reform says it would maintain the NHS as a free public service.

The party has also sought to appeal to rural voters by promising changes to the controversial Sustainable Farming Scheme.

Under its proposals, Reform says it would work with the farming sector to deliver a ten-year Welsh food strategy and reduce regulatory pressure on farmers.

‘Put Wales first’

Speaking at the launch, Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas said the manifesto offered voters a clear alternative to the current Welsh Government.

“This manifesto is a blueprint for real change here in Wales,” he said.

“These promises put Wales and Welsh communities first, and unlike the pledges put forward by other parties, these are deliverable.

“Armed with this blueprint, we have all the building blocks to end a generation of decline here in Wales.”

Nigel Farage also addressed the event, praising the Welsh team and describing the manifesto as a serious plan for government.

“In a Senedd election campaign that has been characterised by fantasy economics from the other parties, this document is a serious plan to deliver the real change Wales deserves,” he said.

Political reaction

Opposition parties were quick to criticise the plans.

Welsh Labour said the manifesto amounted to “a Tory programme in Reform clothing” and accused the party of making unfunded promises.

A party spokesperson said: “This is a manifesto full of billions in commitments without explaining how they would be paid for.”

Other parties have also raised concerns about Reform’s policies on asylum and social housing, arguing they risk deepening social divisions.

Election battle ahead

The launch marks the start of what is expected to be an intense campaign ahead of the Senedd election on May 7.

Labour has governed Wales continuously since devolution began in 1999, but polls suggest the political landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and Reform all seeking to capitalise on voter dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Reform hopes its message of tax restraint, infrastructure investment and tighter migration policies will resonate with voters frustrated by rising living costs and public service pressures.

Whether the party can translate that message into seats in the Senedd will become clear when voters go to the polls in just over two months.

We are live at International Convention Centre, Newport for the Reform UK Welsh Manifesto Launch

AS a 22-year-old reporter from west Wales, I did not expect to be one of the few journalists in the room — and to be the youngest them — at Reform UK’s Welsh manifesto launch in Newport on Thursday.

But as Nigel Farage walked into the International Convention Centre to loud applause from supporters who had paid £5 to attend, the press seats quickly filled with around thirty reporters waiting to question him and the party’s Welsh leader, Dan Thomas.

What followed was part campaign rally, part policy launch — and a clear attempt by Reform to put immigration at the centre of the upcoming Senedd election campaign.

When the opportunity for questions came, I asked the one issue that immediately raised eyebrows in the room.

Wales does not control immigration — that power sits firmly with Westminster and the UK Border Force — so what could a Reform Welsh Government realistically do?

Dan Thomas did not shy away from the constitutional reality.

“You’re quite right, we don’t control immigration,” he said.

“The UK Government and border forces are meant to be doing that and they’re not. We understand that.”

But he said a Reform-led Welsh Government would still take action by removing what he described as “pull factors” created by Welsh Government policy.

He singled out the Welsh Government’s Nation of Sanctuary programme — introduced in 2019 to support refugees and asylum seekers already placed in Wales by the Home Office.

“Our position is clear,” he said.

“We would end the Nation of Sanctuary policy immediately and we would halt the housing of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers in Wales in whatever form we can — whether that’s hotels or local authority arrangements.

“If that means legislative changes or challenging Westminster directly, then so be it.”

Nigel Farage later reinforced the message during his closing remarks, telling supporters immigration had become a defining political issue.

“The public are really angry and they want action on this,” he said.

“We’ve heard it all before from governments — ‘stop the boats’, ‘smash the gangs’, ‘if you come illegally you’ll be deported’ — but the problem continues.”

The event briefly turned chaotic when a heckler began shouting during Farage’s speech in an attempt to drown him out.

Security staff quickly stepped in and escorted the protester out of the hall.

As the doors closed behind him, many in the crowd clapped before Farage calmly resumed his speech.

Beyond immigration, Reform used the event to outline a wider programme for Wales.

Among the pledges were scrapping Wales’ default 20mph speed limit, prioritising long-term residents for social housing, and reviving plans for an M4 relief road around Newport.

But the tension at the heart of the debate remains clear.

Immigration policy is controlled by Westminster, not the Senedd. Any attempt by a Welsh Government to block asylum accommodation or refuse cooperation with the Home Office would almost certainly trigger legal and constitutional battles.

Supporters of the Nation of Sanctuary policy say it reflects humanitarian values and helps refugees already placed in Wales integrate into communities and employment.

Critics argue it sends the wrong signal at a time when migration remains one of the UK’s most divisive political issues.

From the press seats in Newport, it was clear Reform is betting that frustration with Westminster — and Cardiff Bay — will resonate with voters.

For communities in west Wales, where housing shortages and pressure on public services are often discussed alongside asylum placements, the issue is likely to feature heavily during the campaign.

And for one young reporter who travelled from west Wales to cover the launch, it was a reminder that sometimes the most important moment at a political event is simply getting the chance to ask the question.