Mum who attacked Reform in Senedd by-election TV debate standing for Plaid

A mother who made headlines after attacking Reform’s immigration stance at last year’s Caerphilly Senedd by-election TV debate has been announced as a Plaid Cymru candidate.

Last October, Alison Vyas told Reform candidate Llŷr Powell her family “had never felt so unwelcome” in Caerphilly until his party began campaigning for the vacant Senedd seat.

On January 5, Plaid announced she would stand for the Porset ward on Van Community Council if a by-election is called there.

Describing her as a “proud Valleys woman raised in Lansbury Park”, the party said Mrs Vyas “stands with Plaid Cymru because decisions about our communities should be made here in Wales, by people who care”.

However, her selection has enraged figures at Reform – which has alleged Mrs Vyas was a “Plaid plant” in the audience during October’s BBC Wales debate.

“This revelation will be the final straw for many people in Wales,” said Reform leader Nigel Farage. “How can there be any confidence that Reform will get a fair and balanced hearing when this is the kind of thing that happens at key election debates?”

Posting on X, Torfaen councillor David Thomas, who was recently forced to quit his community council role in Cwmbran for non-attendance, alleged the Senedd by-election debate was “a set-up” and claimed studio audiences are “curated, stage-managed, and too often stacked to make us look bad”.

The BBC has rejected Reform’s allegations.

“As with all BBC election debates, the audience was selected through an established and impartial vetting process designed to ensure a fair representation of political views,” a BBC spokesperson said. “All participants were selected in line with our standard editorial guidelines.”

Cllr Charlotte Bishop, who leads the Plaid group in the Caerphilly County Borough Council chamber, rubbished the claims Mrs Vyas was connected to the party when the debate took place.

“Alison I didn’t know – I’m the one who spoke to her after the debate,” said Cllr Bishop. “I reached out to her [and said] if there’s anything we can do about the trolling and the horrific abuse, please let us know.”

Cllr Bishop suggested those “brutal” online attacks for criticising Reform played a part in Mrs Vyas joining Plaid – “well, well after” the debate took place.

“If anything, they are the reason she joined Plaid,” she said. “We reach out and ask if [people] are OK – she went to the debate to protect her family.”

On Reform’s allegations of unfairness, Cllr Bishop added: “It’s their standard comeback – if they don’t get their way, they [claim] they were cheated.”

Meanwhile, a Caerphilly County Borough Council by-election is set to be held in the Van ward, following the passing of long-serving Labour councillor Christine Forehead in November.

Two candidates have so far been confirmed. They are Labour’s Matthew Ferris, and Plaid Cymru’s Jeff Grenfell. The date for the by-election is yet to be announced.