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Ukrainian refugees condemn failure of authorities to take action against Reform over campaign lies

By Mark Mansfield
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (left) with his party's candidate, Llyr Powell standing in front of a Tommy Cooper statue while campaigning in Caerphilly. Photo Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Martin Shipton

Ukrainian refugees who were offered shelter when Putin’s Russia invaded their homeland have expressed dismay that no action is being taken against Reform UK for spreading lies about the Welsh Government scheme that helped them settle in Caerphilly.

The most prominent theme in the far right party’s messaging for the Senedd by-election taking place on October 23 has been an attack on the £55m Nation of Sanctuary programme.

Reform has constantly stated that the money was “wasted” by being spent on asylum seekers, despite having been told that is not the case and that 85% of the £55m was used to pay for the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, predominantly women and children, who are not asylum seekers.

Last week the group Caerphilly Ukrainians made a formal complaint about Reform’s misinformation campaign to the by-election’s Returning Officer Ed Edmunds, who is also chief executive of Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Mr Edmunds has told the group, whose members have spoken about how they feel they are being told to go home whenever they see a Reform placard in the street, that he cannot intervene.

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Misleading

Yuliia Bond, one of the leading members of the Caerphilly Ukrainians, has now written a social media post in which she greatly regrets the failure to take Reform to task for its deliberately misleading criticisms of the Nation of Sanctuary programme in the ruthless pursuit of votes.

The open letter states: “ We came to Wales because it stood for truth, fairness, and kindness - the values that gave us hope when we had lost everything. Wales opened its homes and hearts to us. People here didn’t just give us shelter, they gave us dignity and a future. We will always be grateful for that.

“But that’s why what’s happening now feels so wrong. Across Caerphilly County Borough, thousands of homes have been given leaflets full of false claims - designed to turn kind neighbours against people who have done nothing wrong except seek safety. Those lies don’t just mislead voters; they divide communities and poison trust. Yet no authority seems willing to act: when those responsible face no consequences, it sends a terrible message — that truth no longer matters in politics.

“Every voter in Wales should care about that. Because if politicians can lie to you and get away with it, what hope is there for honest democracy? If deceiving the public isn’t against the rules, then the rules themselves are broken.

“Accountability must mean something again. Those who spread lies should be made to answer for them - publicly and clearly.”

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'False claims'

Ms Bond added: “They want to scrap a scheme that mainly supports Ukrainians, spreading false claims and misinformation to make it their main political agenda.

“So far, no local authority has taken urgent action to address this. We are now considering taking it higher, preparing an open letter to be sent to the UK Government, the Electoral Commission, MPs, MSs and international democratic and human rights organisations, such as the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

“This is about truth, fairness and protecting vulnerable people from being targeted by political misinformation.”

'Wrong'

When Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited Caerphilly on October 10, he was asked about the misinformation. He didn’t apologise, but said: “They [Ukrainians] should be entirely [in a different category]. Actually it’s completely wrong that they’re put into that basket. It should be in a separate box - no question about it.”

Since Mr Farage’s visit, there has been no change in Reform UK’s messaging, with the entire £55m - including the 85% spent on resettling Ukrainians - still branded a waste of money.

A Caerphilly council spokesman said: “We can confirm that the Returning Officer has received a complaint concerning election campaign material.

"There are few restrictions on what candidates, political parties or campaigners can say in campaign materials. These restrictions include making or publishing a false statement about the personal character or conduct of a candidate, or publishing offensive material.

"However, the Returning Officer has no power to investigate such complaints so will pass on the complainants concerns to Gwent Police who can consider if the law has been breached.”

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27 comments

Mab Meirion

Please Wales, you fell for Brexit ,don't be fooled by this evil man again...

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Mab Meirion

The Farage Lie in front of the long line of migrants in that poster must not be allowed to be repeated, how long did Jo Cox live after it! Fat Shanks should be in the stocks too...

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Amir

Garage and his band : 15, Wales: zero. Returning officer thinks it is okay to lie. That is after all what misinformation is. Blatant lies and deceit. Just with a little sugar coating and a question. I feel very pessimistic now.

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Undecided

The campaigners are barking up the wrong tree. It’s not a matter for the Returning Officer. The complaint should be directed to the Police and the CPS.

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Amir

The returning officer ensures compliance with electoral law. These puppets are breaking electoral law with their deceit. The complaint was correctly directed presented to the returning officer. He should have then directed the police and CPS to prosecute this deceit. "Under the Public Order Act 1986, it is an offence to publish or distribute threatening, abusive or insulting material that is intended to stir up racial hatred or which is likely to stir up racial hatred." Sorry, I got that wrong. There is no racism in Wales.

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In reply to Amir

Undecided

Returning Officers are responsible for the administration of the election, not the adjudication of election material - and have no powers to direct the Police. If the complainant believes a criminal offence has been committed then she needs to go the Police. You are confusing or conflating electoral and criminal law.

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In reply to Undecided

Amir

That quote was from the electoral commission website. Their table of offences webpage.

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Jeff

Nige has form backing the Russians. He has done it for years. At this point you have to ask what is in it for him. Powell will do as he is told, that is how farage operates.

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Richard Lice

Maybe they should report it to the police to investigate ? It's a potential criminal offence Reform are getting away with totally unacceptable behaviour We can put Tice at the top of that list for grossly misleading the punters about him not knowing the Russian asset Gill An issue of national security

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Ernie The Smallholder

That is what fascists do. There is now no doubt that Reform UK is a fascist outfit; They are opposed to all democratic principles that don't lead them to total dominate power. Wales should not allow fascists such as Reform UK the same rights as a real democratic political organisation, which by their own actions clearly they are not. Why does Wales have to allow them to spread their mis-information ?

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Richard Lice

Certainly looks as if they have crossed the line to seek a political advantage Politically naive of Plaid and Labour not to push this

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Rob W

Fartage has form when it comes to lying to the people. Vote Fartage, get Putin!!

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theoriginalmark

The "authorities" didn't want them here in the first place, it was people demanding the government took action to help the Ukrainians get to safety. Now Reform has got involved and the people would prefer to believe his lies, Reform deserves to have their backsides handed to them on a plate and sent back over the border, why is Wales favouring a far right racist english party, some people really need to give their heads a wobble.

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Jeff

Big chunk of the press including BBC politics both national and Wales have gifted reform a massive platform. That is by design for the press and idiocy by BBC.

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Mab Meirion

I sent you a reply but it must have contained a grain of truth... We live among fear of Farage in Wales, it is a terrible feeling after all the battles with Brexit, Covid, Fat Shanks and Welsh Labour, now it is Farage... If only we could trust the common good in people that is often mentioned or are we the same nasty little country that Thatcher took on and made ten times worse... (if only we could trust the press) We as in Wales could soon be caught in a 'Watkin Pool ' of our own stupidity and selfishness where the sides are too steep and slippery to climb out and we become a brutish and thick Stasi State... They called it Reform

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stp

To deny a platform to a political party which, whether you like it or not, is clearly very popular with the public would be state-sponsored censorship of the opposition. Is this really what you want to set a precedent for? A quick glance around the globe at countries that behave like this suggests it might not be such a smart idea.

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In reply to stp

Jeff

Where did I say deny. Keep up at the back. farage is platformed with no scrutiny. Places like the mail and telegraph are favourable and rubbish everything they don't like. A nazi bigs up the far right in the UK via his platform including farage, huge reach. This is how they get attention. 4 mps at one point, libs 70+ and the BBC are all over fag ash lil. Go figure why terrible tropes are pushed, much like Vance spouting off about eating cats and dogs, farage and co are getting worse and it chimes with a small section of people. How is Gill anyway?Not a peep from the press.

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Badger

Objecting to support for Ukrainians is clearly a Kremlin narrative. What aren't we being told?

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David

All Ukrainians etc. who are registered to vote, shoud vote for Plaid Cymru to teach Reform a lesson.

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Badger

You seem confused. Reform's narrative is that the programme which offered sanctuary to Ukrainians should not have happened at all.

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Theoriginalmark

Didn't think it would be long before Reforms useful idiot would turn up.

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James Edwards

Plaid have to call this lot out for what they are. A far right English Nationalist racist party who hate Wales, our culture our language. It’s alright spreading positive messages but sometimes you have to get in the bear pit and call these knuckle draggers out for what they are. Many ordinary Welsh people have woken up to it but Plaid, Labour and the other fair minded parties have to do the same. If you live in Caerphilly and aren’t an English Nationalist racist vote for the only party that can beat them Vote Plaid Cymru on 23rd October

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Mab Meirion

One flag or the other... It should be simple but one side is pushing in the spotlight with media pictures of them looking like Only Fools and Horses doing Peaky Blinders... While Plaid pussyfoot when they really need tigers claws and instant fact checks when Reform lie and make sure to tell the electorate that this is happening, and have a plan, not a wish, to reply with...

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Badger

Of course there is another Angle. Perhaps ₽eform don't actually have a problem offering sanctuary to Ukrainians. Perhaps what really triggers the Abolish Wales party about "nation of sanctuary" is the word "nation" being used by a jumped up county of England.

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Jeff

Worth a read. How deep are they into reform. https://www.thenerve.news/p/reform-uk-russian-bribes-nathan-gill-guilty-oleh-voloshyn-konstantin-kilimnik

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Cllr Pete Roberts

One council, my own here in Powys has taken a stand, passing a motion at Full Council last week. Proposed by a Lib Dem and seconded by Labour Votes for 39 : (LD/LAB/PC/GRN/Indie/Non Aligned/1 Con Votes against 13: 3 Reform, 9 Con, 1 IND This Council notes with concern the rising levels of misinformation and misconceptions relating to asylum and migration in our communities. We recognise the fear this creates not just among refugees and asylum seekers but also among ethnic minorities who are born in UK or who have come here to work, filling essential jobs in health, social care and other roles. We also recognise the fear this creates in the wider community, in people struggling with the cost of living and other pressures of modern life who are being led to believe, incorrectly, that asylum seekers and other immigrants are a threat to their housing, income, health care and other aspects of their daily life. This Council recognises our role in fostering socially cohesive communities where everyone, regardless of background, is able to live safely, free from discrimination and abuse, contributing to their community and in mutually beneficial relationship with their neighbours. This Council is committed to addressing misinformation and promoting understanding, while fostering the engagement of all voices in our community in informed, constructive and compassionate dialogue. This Council resolves: (1)  To recognise the risk to our communities and to our council if we allow misinformation, and the fear, suspicion, intolerance and discrimination that it generates, to persist unchallenged. (2)  To correct misinformation on asylum and migration wherever it occurs. (3)  To work with partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our communities, regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation or other protected characteristics. (4)  To reaffirm our intention to be a county of sanctuary. (5)  To ensure, as an anti-racist council, that racism is confronted wherever it occurs, in the school, in the workplace and on the street, with particular consideration to protecting the wellbeing of our own staff. (6)  To reaffirm our role as councillors in tackling misinformation and building stronger, cohesive communities.

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Barry

The Merry go round of democracy just keeps spinning,getting no where fast,which is why nothing changes for the better very quickly,unlike technology thats invested in for money. We all have our own views and ideas,and we are all really looking after no1,what a world,maybe this is the real reason for the mess we find our selves in,socially and economically. There is no one guideing voice to show us the way forward,instead we argue and bicker,lie,point fingers at each other when things go wrong. I personally do not have a solution which is exceptable to one and all about how life should be lived,run,do you.

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Replying to Richard Lice Cancel

Maybe they should report it to the police to investigate ? It's a potential criminal offence Reform are getting away with totally unacceptable behaviour We can put Tice at the top of that list for grossly misleading the punters about...

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