Welsh Labour admit Reform UK poses ‘serious threat'
Baroness Eluned Morgan acknowledged there was 'a possibility' that Nigel Farage 's party could become the largest in the Senedd.
Her remarks come after polling suggested that Reform could come first in the parliamentary elections next year.
A poll by More In Common on behalf of Sky News found 28 per cent of people in Wales would back Reform in 2026, putting the party in first place.
Mr Farage's party is targeting the Senedd as it looks to build on its success at the English local elections earlier this year, and unveiled former Wales secretary David Jones as another ex-Tory defector on Monday as part of its push.
The poll, published on Tuesday, showed Plaid Cymru in second place on 26 per cent and Labour in third place on 23 per cent, before a long drop to the Conservatives on 10 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on seven per cent.
If the results were replicated next year, it could mean the end of Labour's 26 years of domination in Wales, where it has held power since devolution.
'We're taking it very seriously, and we think the threat from Reform is a very serious threat,' Baroness Morgan said.
However, she ruled out entering a coalition with the party, saying: 'I wouldn't touch Reform with a bargepole.'
The First Minister also insisted that Labour would be able to win voters back by being 'authentic' and 'clear with people about what we stand for', rather than trying to 'out-Reform Reform'.
She said: 'I think we've got to lead with our values. We're about bringing communities together, not dividing them, and I do think that what Reform is interested in is dividing people and people do need to make choices on things like that.
'So, what I won't be doing in Wales is chasing Reform down a path where we can try and out-Reform Reform. I'm not interested in that, because those aren't my values.'
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