Mother who went viral after by-election debate speaks out on social media abuse

The mother who challenged Reform UK’s by-election candidate Llyr Powell over his campaign’s anti-immigration rhetoric has spoken out against the barrage of abuse she has received on social media.

Appearing with her son Cole on BBC Wales’ by-election debate last week, Alison Vyas, from Caerphilly, said she blamed Mr Powell for making her family feel “unwelcome” in her home town.

The exchange began when Alison’s 22-year-old son, Cole, asked the panel whether immigration was a problem in Caerphilly.

Reform UK’s candidate, Llŷr Powell, replied “yes”, prompting Cole to challenge him, citing the 2021 Census which showed that only 2.9% of Caerphilly residents were born outside the UK.

Mr Powell claimed there had been a “large influx” since then but could not provide newer figures when pressed by Labour’s Richard Tunnicliffe.

As the discussion continued, the mother-of-two spoke up. “I’m Cole’s mother. I’m born and bred in Caerphilly,” she said. “I’ve lived here all my life, and my son is part of the 2.9% that you say are overtaking Caerphilly.

“We’ve lived here all our lives, and I have never felt so unwelcome in my own home town as I do since your party came into Caerphilly with all the rhetoric that you bring in. I have to say to my sons, ‘please don’t go there’ and ‘please don’t do this’. Quite frankly, Mr Powell, I blame you for that.”

Mr Powell insisted he was speaking about “immigration as a policy” rather than individuals, but Mrs Vyas replied: “We’re not policies – you’re talking about human beings.”

Alison’s husband was born in Uganda, and fled dictator Idi Amin, settling in Bedwas.

Since the broadcast, clips of Alison and Cole speaking have spread across social media – along with hateful racist comments – mostly on the Senedd Waste Facebook page.

Alison said: “Why would I put myself out there if I didn’t care? Who wants to get relentless comments like this? It is easy to stay quiet.

“Most of the comments have been made by men who say women need protecting.

“It’s been difficult for me over the last couple of days. We’ve struggled a lot as a family – you wonder whether or not you’ve done the right thing, but ultimately we had to speak up.”