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Reform UK wins Ynys Môn by-election

By Mark Mansfield
Celfyn Furlong. Photo via Facebook

Reform UK has won its first-ever seat on Ynys Môn council after taking the Ynys Gybi ward in a by-election.

Reform candidate Celfyn Furlong secured victory with 603 votes, gaining the seat from Plaid Cymru with a majority of 260.

Plaid’s Bethan Jones finished second on 343 votes, followed by Labour’s Mary Roberts on 171. Voter turnout was 33.3%, with one ballot paper rejected.

The by-election was triggered by the death of long-serving councillor and former Football Association of Wales president Trefor Lloyd Hughes MBE, who died in November aged 77.

The result gives Reform UK its first representative on Isle of Anglesey County Council, where Plaid Cymru remains the largest group with 19 councillors. The council also includes 11 independents, three Labour councillors, and one each from the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK.

Ynys Gybi is also represented by Labour councillor Keith Roberts and independent councillor Dafydd Rhys Thomas.

In a statement following his win, Cllr Furlong paid tribute to his predecessor, describing Mr Lloyd Hughes as a “talisman” who had given years of service to the community and to Wales. He said he was “humbled and honoured” to be elected and pledged to work hard for local residents.

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73 comments

Adam

No. Allowing abuser supporting racists in to Wales is not a win. It's not a win for the voters of either side. All it confirms is that there are Wales hating racists polluting a decent Welsh community. The filth of racism is a dangerous form of abuse and it should be kept well away from children.

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Rob W

Not entirely surprised by this result. The Caergybi/Holyhead area seems to have become Reform UK central (along with Llanelli). If those two places were typical of Cymru as a whole, then we really will be in the sh*t!!

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Badger

You can't be any more in the sh*t than having Labour running the country for Iover 20 years. The countries a mess even worse than England which is saying something!

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GaryCymru

Accurate, but Reform despise Wales and the Welsh. They want to forcibly remove whats left of our culture and make us an extension of their failed country. Wales is a very decent anti racist country and having just one supporter in Wales is a serious threat to our communities.

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In reply to GaryCymru

Tim

Get real, Wales isn't much different to England as regards racism

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In reply to GaryCymru

clear eyed

You really should have attended the Reform conference in far away Newport last week. There you would have seen the man Farage has chosen to lead the party in Wales. A Welsh man of the valleys. Returning home after 25 years in London where he successfully ran Barnet council. He returns to the valleys so that his children can have the upbringing that he had. Farage also appointed an excellent young Welsh farmer. The days of a donkey wearing red rosette are over.

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Nick

It can always be worse. That's the bitter lesson for voters who in 2016 said "it can't be any worse" when they ticked the Leave box and now realise how wrong they were.

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James Edwards

Agree it’s in a mess but no way is it worse than England. that’s why all the English are piling over here

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In reply to James Edwards

Mandi A

The English mansion tax is bringing them, well done Ms Reeves

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In reply to Mandi A

David J

Maybe someone owning a home worth £2,000,000 or more would decide to move to Cymry, but not to save the £2,500 p.a. the mansion tax will cost them. Besides, it doesn't come in until 2028, and who knows where we will be then? You definitely win a shoehorn award though, for your irrelevant dig at the chancellor.

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In reply to James Edwards

David J

All of them? I hadn't noticed, maybe I should get out more.

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David J

There is a portugese saying to the effect that "no situation is so bad that it cannot be made worse". Should reform ever come to power here, the truth of that saying will become obvious.

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Llyn

Despite the polls, if I was a betting man I would put money on Reform at least winning the most votes and seats in May. This is not a good result for Plaid. Once more this also shows the Green vote is not anywhere near the hype. Like it or not Rhun ap Iorwerth needs to come up with a compelling responses to things like 20mph, the M4 relief road and immigration (not say there is no such thing as illegal immigration). More than just mumbling non answers.

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Alwyn

The latest polling puts them well ahead in the senedd election. It wasn't highlighted on this site. Not enough for a majority, but quite ahead in terms of seats from Plaid. Despite the opinions yesterday, their leader in wales is someone more people can relate to than Eluned and Rhun - working class background etc

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David J

What is wrong with the 20 limit? It has saved lives and injuries, reduced insurance premiums, and generally made driving through populated areas a more relaxing and safer experience. The only people who complain about it are entitled arrogant types who think the law doesn't apply to them. If they are always in a hurry maybe they could just get up earlier.

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Llyn

I agree with the 20mph myself. But when I've heard Rhun talk about 20 it's all about how they were angry with the implementation. Come out and say it's saved 100 lives etc and make them bat that away. Say if neighbourhoods want to change it they can.

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Nick

The twenty argument is simple because it's a default not a blanket and it's up to local communities to decide which roads remain at the default and which can be increased. This is exactly the same argument the new Reform leader made when he was running a London council.

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Julian Norman

Plaid has to do plenty to distinguish itself from Labour because by supporting Labour in the Sennedd on many occasions, people think they are the same as Labour, only a bit more Welsh.

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GaryCymru

I would imagine the vote is due to incomers just being disrespectful and having their neighbours. Unfortunately it's acceptable for Britcims to come here and destroy our country.

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Adam

KEEP THE FILTH OF RACISM OUT OF WALES

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Mab Meirion

Who owns the 'free port' of Holyhead, have a walk round, lots to commend but in need of millions, if only one could prise it out of the Senedd's fingers...

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Nick

The actual port is privately owned which is why there's no investment and ships keep breaking the cheap shoddy infrastructure.

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Mab Meirion

I know, just testing, it is the rest of the Island that let the side down... I expect the 'Elbow from Trearddur Bay' is a supporter...

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In reply to Mab Meirion

Mab Meirion

It is a rotten borough where for the price of a pint you can by a vote, it is an untypical environment, the food chain is a prime mover, the ratio of house renovator, architect and building supplier to absent householder must be remarkable, enough to find the gallant 600...

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In reply to Mab Meirion

David J

???

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In reply to David J

Mandi A

"Into the Valley of Death rode the 600" - in a feudal society, will the workforce ever vote against the hand that feeds it?

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In reply to David J

Mab Meirion

"You walk into the room with your Pencil in Your Hand" I'll let Bob Dylan explain...

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In reply to Mab Meirion

Nick

Can't miss an opportunity to point out how the private sector always makes a mess of critical economic infrastructure. The pro-privatisation lobby actually know this because they never demand that the roads they use on a daily basis are flogged off to the highest bidder.

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Gwyn Hopkins

Reform UK is a Limited Company masquerading as an undemocratic political party – an extreme right-wing English Nationalist party. It has a self-appointed leader, Nigel Farage, who effectively makes all the important decisions such as selecting Dan Thomas as his puppet leader in Wales. At the Reform Party rally in Newport on 5/2/2026, recent Tory defector to Reform, James Evans MS, said “Wales is broken and Wales needs Reform”. What nonsense – Wales needs Reform like a hole in the head. It is amazing that so many people in Ynys Gybi by-election were duped to vote for them.   

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Adt

I’m not surprised, many people in Wales voted to leave the EU too. The hard of thinking will always jump on bandwagons.

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Tucker

The vote was skewed by English retirees. There are plenty of studies out there to confirm this

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In reply to Tucker

David

Not sure what the evidence is on this...hang on....

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In reply to Tucker

David

Ah ok https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/sep/22/english-people-wales-brexit-research?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

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In reply to David

Annie Eaves

Have you read that and thought about it a bit? It falls apart so easily, I’ve done a lengthy comment on it, it’s important to explain because the idea has grown and it’s nonsense.

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Brychan

Ynys Gybi includes Rhoscolyn rapidly morphing into a holiday and retirement village. It also boasts the residential abode of Jake Berry the former Conservative MP and northern powerhouse minister. From Lancashire, a big cheese who defected to Reform after losing his seat. Celfyn Furlong himself is a former Conservative. He already sits on the community council on the main island at Llanfihangel-yn-Nhywyn the road to RAF Valley, where he lives. This result is indictive of the cultural and demographic changes in such locations.

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Mandi A

You saved me from writing all this down. However, just to say, Rhoscolyn has always been a holiday place from when the Verneys owned Plas Rhoscolyn and Plas Rhianfa in the mid 1800s. Rhoscolyn and the White Eagle have been the roost of the brewery magnates of the NW of England for many many years.

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David Hughes

Damned disgusting result for.our Wales,we do not need fascists in our gov any where.

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GaryCymru

Exactly like a Reform supporter hopefully. That's kind of the point of using ironic humour though right?

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Adam

Everyone is welcome, but if they're spreading the cancer of racism they should show some respect and leave it at the border.

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Jeff

He is not going to work for locals, his is going to do what farage says.

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Nia James

Trumpian English Nationalism raises its flag upon Ynys Mon. Sadly, there'll be other instances before people - hopefully - will one day wake up and see through the bigoted grifters.

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Mandi A

"A massive majority despite a low turnout", I quote Reform Bangor Aberconwy & Mon FB page. Any astute political activist will spot the key phrases here. Plaid put in a young unknown candidate to take on the mantle of a leviathan of Anglesey political life. More to the point, I can see Ynys Gybi from my window and I had no idea this by-election was taking place. Second-homers can vote in local elections so Reform and Mrs Crosbie's former sidekick and gentleman farmer Celfyn Furlong were smart and subtle in getting their vote out. Not sure where the information comes from for YM being Reform Central - that would be Conwy in North Wales - but we did suffer Nathan Gill for many years and UKIP / Reform could muster a regular 6,000 votes. Let this be a warning to Plaid.

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Rob W

I don't think anyone said YM is Reform Central. Caergybi/Holyhead and the surrounding area on the other hand...

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Mandi A

According to my research, the only Reform UK Cymru branch across the whole of Wales which actually has an active website is Bangor Aberconwy YM. Their meetings are held in Llanrhos which is the far eastern boundary of the new constituency (Conwy). Even there, there is no news piece on their recent election triumph. Each branch page invites you to Join or Donate and gives you an email for a local named chairperson and that's it. Conwy has always had the Tory vote and Reform will probably do very well there

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In reply to Mandi A

Ianto

You could describe Llanrhos as being on the far right boundary of the constituency!!!

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Mandi A

Ynys Gybi is Holy Island less Holyhead Town, it is not "the people of Ynys Mon" but yes, we do have a problem that needs serious attention before May 7

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David J

It is clearly shorthand for "british criminals" but there is a missing letter. "Having" should obviously read "hating". It is not considered good etiquette to criticise typos, which are sadly all too common in these days of predictive text. having said that, I wish people would not be lazy, and avoid unnecessary contractions. I also wish they would scan their posts for both grammatical mistakes and loose or ambiguous meaning, before posting.

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David J

Unfortunately that is true, we have our share of bigots and morons, though hopefully not as a larger percentage of the population as seems to be the case in england.

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GaryCymru

Britcims is one of the terms that certain groups of Brits have earnt by playing the victim so well. See also the victim mindset that is standard for those of a racist persuasion.

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David J

If you want to combine "british" with "victim" wouldn't that be "brittims" or something? I googled "britcims" and nothing came up.

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coldcomfort

Or "Brictims". Nothing comes for that or your suggestion either though so if any of them is in use it's confined to some cognoscenti

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Arthur Owen

I suspect Mr Furlong is really a Tory,I come to this conclusion due to the respectful way be speaks of Trevor Lloyd Hughes unlike most Reform politicians who seem to think that ererything before them is rubbish.

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Mab Meirion

Was Chairman of Anglesey Conservatives under Virginia Crosbie, they are all ex-Tories

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David

Another ridiculous choice by us. What has happened to the Freeport 26 million?

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Che Guevara's Fist

They do indeed. Because they're just as stupid, ignorant, and thoroughly uninformed like you.

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Y Cymro

An act of self-harm. Will they ever learn. Those voters on Ynys Mon who chose an English imperialist will regret their decision.

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Mab Meirion

Still pretty Feudal on Ynys Mon, Lord Sterling rules ok...

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Mab Meirion

Has the Pavilion Cafe of Llanfairfechan switched to Reform yet, the last time I stopped there it was all Tory...

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coldcomfort

My experience too.

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coldcomfort

What is the record of the Plaid-led council? I genuinely don't know. If it's not great, everyone has run out of patience with people in office who don't deliver the goods, no matter who they are and who the party is. As I say, I genuinely don't know how good this Council has been but I'd like to know before I place a bet about what's going on. And then I'd need to know the demographics of the ward and who voted. To be clear: I dread Reform; I'm just strongly attached to evidence.

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Ianto

Well articulated response, I too wish people would examine the facts and further evidence from the locality. I worry that we are in for one hell of a Senedd Election season. There will be no mud left anywhere in this fair country.

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Andy Williams

The easiest job politics is the office of opposition. Labour have found that out. If Reform get into power, (unfortunately it looks like it) lets see how this shower handle the levers of government. Just maybe, Farage might be held to account over the shambles of Brexit.

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Andy Williams

Hope this result, focus minds in Plaid, still a lot of work to do .Only one poll matters.

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Richard Lice

Funny old ward with discontnted deprived areas and second homeland Strong local canddiate too Expect some of the Cheshire set who have designated ther holiday home as main residence voted Reform They do this to avoid the punitive council tax charges

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Guess Again

Five years from now we'll be saying "Reform who?" just like we say "UKIP who?" today

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Tim

Why wouldn't 'welsh' people vote reform? Unfortunately they've got big support in Wales

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Tim Saunders

Dyma rybudd nad oes wiw i ni ymlacio am eiliad.

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John Ellis

The hard fact is that there's at least a fundamental truth to the old adage that 'the voters are never wrong'. In the light of that, the most sensible and pragmatic critical reaction to a verdict delivered by them is the one offered decades ago by a long dead and forgotten US politicians: 'The people have spoken - the b*st*rds!'

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David

Party that lied about Brexit. Made Holyhead poorer. National party leader is pals with a racist insurrectionist rapist. And many did not bother to vote.

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Annie Eaves

I think the eagerness from some to blame English immigrants is an issue. Reform’s biggest votes in May are likely to come from Welsh areas with far lower than average English immigration. The same was true for Brexit. The report by Professor Danny Dorling is often dragged up, and in these comments too. However, his report was based on retirees moving to Wales, and Welsh speaking areas voting Remain. He didn’t then do further research into those areas. He failed to consider several key points. 1 - There were not so many areas of Wales which voted Remain. The major ones, Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Arfon, Ceredigion, Cardiff Central, Monmouth have higher - usually far, far higher - percentages of people born in England than the Wales average. Ceredigion is 37% English born, Monmouth 35%, Gwynedd 27%… compared to 21% average. 2 - Many of the valleys areas, where the Brexit vote was highest, have far below average English %. Eg Blaenau Gwent was Wales’ highest Brexit vote at 62%, but their England born number is 8.4%, way below average. Same is true for neighbouring areas. 3 - Those who had managed to build a life so they could retire to a place they loved are naturally wealthier than average. The wealthier people were, and the more educated, dropped the likeliness of them voting Brexit. Dorling focused on age and Welsh speaking areas and largely left it there. His research was poor, off the cuff even, but has influenced a ‘blame the English’ narrative in Welsh politics since. Without realising that isn’t the case, and indeed that the Brexit % may have been higher without those immigrants, it made tackling the real reasons for such voting tendencies (Brexit/Reform) harder. In May, Blaenau and similar are likely to highly vote Reform despite having a relatively negligible English population. Blaming incomers is as absurd as many of Reform’s slants, and indeed in many ways a mirror of them.

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