REFORM UK have slammed the BBC after it emerged that a critical audience member from a crucial by-election debate is a Plaid Cymru candidate.

Last year voters in Caerphilly went to the polls following the sudden death of Labour Senedd Member Hefin David.

In the lead up to polling day, BBC Wales held a television debate with six of the candidates titled ‘Your Voice, Your Vote’.

A key interaction during the debate came when a mother criticised Reform’s stance on immigration, claiming she had, “never felt so unwelcome in my own home town”.

She went on to say to Reform’s candidate: “Mr Powell, I blame you for that.”

The interaction was discussed widely in the media for the remainder of the campaign, including on BBC media. In one article, summing up the debate, the BBC claimed Llyr Powell, “came under fire more than anyone else for his party's stance on migration.”

The story also made headlines on Wales Online. Richard Gurner, editor of the local newspaper Caerphilly Observer told the Guardian the interaction was a turning point in the election.

Plaid Cymru have since announced the mother, named Alison Vyas, as a community council candidate in Caerphilly.

Following the debate, Alison also appeared in social media content for Plaid Cymru.

Polling indicated that Reform UK and Plaid Cymru were ‘neck and neck’ to win the seat, which Labour had held for over 100 years.

Farage has previously pointed out that the BBC’s director of nations, Rhuannedd Richards, was formerly the chief executive of Plaid Cymru.

Nigel Farage MP, Leader of Reform UK, said:

“Trust in the BBC has been shaken by scandals in recent years, from Huw Edwards to the selective editing of a clip of President Trump.

“Now, this revelation will be the final straw for many people in Wales.

“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?”