The Conservatives’ Mark Reckless, and Ukip’s David Rowlands have joined up with independents Mandy Jones and Caroline Jones to form the group in the Welsh Assembly. In a letter the four AMs said: “We wish to form a Brexit Party political group, with immediate effect. We confirm that Mark Reckless has resigned from the Conservative Group, and that David Rowlands hereby resigns from the Ukip group.”
Mr Farage’s newly formed party has seen a surge in support since its inception, leading polls for the European elections and is fighting neck-and-neck with the Tories in voters’ Westminster voting intentions.
The Brexit Party, which only registered with the Electoral Commission on February 5, galvanised the support of voters angry with the UK Government’s failure to deliver the result of the 2016 EU referendum by the original deadline of March 31.
Mr Farage said: “The leavers in Wales are all coming back together again, no more divided tribe.
“I’m very pleased as a leader of the Brexit Party to welcome four members of the Welsh Assembly who will now re-designate as of this afternoon as Brexit Party members”.
The Brexit Party already has representation at an EU level after 14 MEPs quit Ukip to join the new movement. The four AMs’ decision to form a Brexit Party in the Welsh Assembly is the group’s first delegation in a national legislature.
Mr Reckless told a press conference: “Brexit is being blocked and the Brexit Party group in the Welsh Assembly from today will be supporting Nigel Farage, supporting the Brexit Party in everything that they are doing to protect our democracy and to ensure that Brexit is delivered.”
The four AMs wrote to presiding officer Elin Jones to request they form a Brexit Party group, with Mr Reckless as leader and Mr Rowlands resigning from Ukip.
The assembly commission has confirmed the request is under consideration, but the presiding officer must be happy the requirements of being a group under assembly rules are met before it can actually be recognised as one.
But some Labour and Plaid Cymru have been left furious, and are considering trying to change rules to prevent groups representing parties who did not stand in the assembly election from being recognised.
Blaenau Gwent Labour AM Alun Davies told the Senedd: “These chancers did not stand for election under any party label they are using today.
“They are using this in order to access public resources and public money without standing for election and seeking the consent of anybody or any constituency or region in any part of Wales.”
Mr Farage’s new party is also hoping to enter the House of Commons after fielding a candidate to stand in the Peterborough by-election taking place on June 6.
A total of 60.9 percent of the Midlands city voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum.
TV personality, author and businessman Mike Greene has been selected by the Brexit Party to contest the Westminster seat.
Speaking after his selection, he said: “Brexit is a cause close to my heart, it’s all about democracy.
“The people of Peterborough and across the country have been badly let down by Theresa May and the Conservative Party.”
