Welsh Senedd Member Joins Plaid Cymru, Citing Party Chaos and Citing Disagreement Over Asylum Seeker Comments

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, a Senedd member who recently quit the Reform party, has joined Plaid Cymru, citing the "chaotic" state of her former party and disagreement over remarks made about Sudanese asylum seekers.

Cooper-Lesadd stated that speeches by Reform Caerdydd Penarth MS Joe Martin, which implied asylum seekers from Sudan posed a safety risk, were "flashpoints" for her. She described Martin's words as not aligning with her personal values and the Reform party as "falling apart at the seams."

Elected as a Reform MS for the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg constituency in May, Cooper-Lesadd's switch to Plaid Cymru marks her third political party affiliation since the beginning of 2024. She had previously been a Conservative member.

During an interview, Cooper-Lesadd expressed her support for Welsh independence and increased powers for the Welsh government, core tenets of Plaid Cymru's platform. "I support the ability of people to choose their own future, and that is self-determination," she said, adding, "I would vote yes" to independence when the time is right.

She also revealed her stance on the UK's relationship with the European Union, stating she voted Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum and believes Brexit has damaged trading relationships. "So yes, I absolutely do support that," she said regarding rejoining the EU.

Cooper-Lesadd joined Reform with the belief that it was a "broad church" but found it had become "extremely narrow." She contrasted this with Plaid Cymru, which she described as having a "set of values-based" approach that resonates with her.

Following her departure, Reform MS Llyr Powell told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that the party had "made a lot of effort to try to communicate" with Cooper-Lesadd. He questioned whether she had "fully understood the core values of the party that she was standing for."

Cooper-Lesadd assured constituents that her work on their behalf would continue. "My work with my constituents doesn't end today, I'll continue fighting for them, continue standing up for them."