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Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has described the party’s transition into the role of official opposition in the Senedd as a “work in progress”.<\/b><\/p>\n
Taking questions ahead of the party’s autumn conference, Tice said Reform was “making a real difference” and “challenging the status quo”.<\/p>\n
Reform is by far the largest opposition party in the new expanded Senedd chamber, winning 34 out of 96 seats in May’s election.<\/p>\n
Asked for his assessment of the party’s performance in Wales over the past few months, Tice said a “proper debate” was now being held in the country.<\/p>\n
While some people “might find that difficult”, he said, it had been a “good thing” for democracy.<\/p>\n
“It’s a healthy part of the whole process, and I think that there’s some key areas around issues of immigration and net-zero that the Welsh people want debated and want to save some money,” Tice said.<\/p>\n
Asked about the idea of giving the Welsh government control of policing in Wales, Tice said his party was “happy to look at the right solution”.<\/p>\n
But he insisted the question of where powers lay had not been the most pressing issue.<\/p>\n
“The devolution of the power is not the key issue,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The key issue is the leadership and the common sense to keep the streets safe.”<\/p>\n
Reform’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas had previously objected to the devolution of policing, saying Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour’s record on devolution was “one of failure and chaos”.<\/p>\n
Last month Prime Minister Andy Burnham marked a change in tone from previous UK governments who had rejected the idea of handing over policing powers in the past.<\/p>\n
Burnham said that while he could not make promises, he would be “open to the conversation”, and that with “wider policing reform” going on it was a “good time to look at those issues”.<\/p>\n
Tice also gave his backing to Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas, saying he was doing a good job, and said Reform hoped to “win as much as possible” in next year’s Welsh council elections and would be trying for first place in the poll.<\/p>\n
Reform does not run any councils in Wales currently.<\/p>\n
The party will hold its annual conference in Birmingham from 3-5 September.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n