A Reform UK councillor has called for GB News’s Senedd ban to be lifted following Reform’s success in the Caerphilly by-election.
Speaking to GB News, Swansea Councillor Francesca O’Brien declared “we need you back” as she hailed GB News’s coverage of the vote.
Nigel Farage’s party took second place in the crucial by-election on Thursday night, rubbing salt in the wound for Labour, who suffered a cataclysmic defeat.
Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle knocked Labour off their perch which they had sat on for more than a century.
Reform UK councillor Francesca O’Brien has called for GB News’s Senedd ban to be lifted
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GB NEWS / PA
Discussing the election result on GB News, Ms O’Brien said: “The polls in the lead up a few days before the election did have us just ahead of Plaid, but look, we’ve made a historic result here.
“We’ve literally gone from zero to 100, so it’s a historic realignment of Welsh politics, and what a foundation we’ve now got to build upon heading towards next May’s set of elections.”
As host Nana Akua asked if GB News may now be shown in the Senedd following Reform’s success, Ms O’Brien exclaimed: “You are still banned, but we need to get you back in there, and that just goes to show that we are breaking down those doors.
“Now people are listening, and it’s great that GB News are picking up and covering Wales, which has been neglected for so long under the Welsh Labour Government.”
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Labour had held the seat since 1918 before Plaid Cymru and Lindsay Whittle’s victory
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GETTYPredicting that next May’s election will be a “two-horse race” between Plaid Cymru and Reform, the councillor explained: “let’s not forget Nana, Plaid Cymru propped Labour up in power here since devolution, so unfortunately those who voted Plaid yesterday, they’re propping back Labour in power.
“So it is only going to be a two-horse race at next May’s elections here, and that’s between Reform UK and Plaid, and we’ve shown that we are a really good strong contender.”
Asked by Nana if Labour’s monumental loss was “anticipated” by local Government, Ms O’Brien told GB News: “I think so. I’m a local councillor here in Swansea and when you go out knocking on doors, even in Swansea and in Caerphilly where we’ve been campaigning really hard over the last few weeks, that was the noise on the door.
“Labour has been decimated, and that goes to show.”
Ms O’Brien told GB News that Welsh voters believe Labour has been ‘decimated’
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GB NEWS
Denying that the result was a “loss” for Reform, the Swansea councillor made clear: “What’s really interesting, it’s been reported here in ways or comments or even on my social media page, that it’s a loss for Reform.
“Well, no, we didn’t hold the seat. It was a Labour held seat since time began, and look where we’ve come, you know? So absolutely, it’s not a loss for us. It’s a massive loss and devastation for Labour, and I think now they’ve got a grim few months ahead of them. If you want my opinion, I don’t think it’s going to turn around in the next seven months for them at all.”
She concluded: “I’m the only councillor here in Swansea and I know that there’s going to be more following me, and I think we’ve just got to show we’ve got a proven track record like myself. We’re going out working hard for the community and delivering, and that’s the message we need to get across.
“You’ve only got to look at the in-house fighting for Labour and Conservatives, we’re going down the right path here. We’re going to be attacked, let’s not forget the spotlight is very much on Reform at the moment.
“They’re out to attack us and we’ve just got to keep our eye on that goal, and that’s to deliver for the people, deliver common sense and go ahead and win that election next May.”
