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Catherine Cullen - Reform UK MS

Catherine Cullen — Reform UK MS for Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni

Basic Info

Field Detail
Full Name Catherine Cullen
Party Reform UK (Reform UK Wales)
Position Member of the Senedd (MS)
Constituency Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni
Term Start 8 May 2026
Suffix MS
Welsh Parliament 7th Senedd (2026–2031)

Political Career

Catherine Cullen was elected as a Member of the Senedd for the newly created Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni constituency in the 2026 Senedd election held on 7 May 2026.

She is one of three Reform UK MSs elected in this six-member constituency, alongside Llyr Powell and Joshua Kim. The other three seats went to Plaid Cymru (Delyth Jewell, Lindsay Whittle, and Niamh Salkeld).

Election Results (Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, 2026)

Party Votes Seats Won
Plaid Cymru 29,314 3 (Jewell, Whittle, Salkeld)
Reform UK 23,955 3 (Powell, Cullen, Kim)
Labour 7,739 0
Conservatives 3,353 0
Green Party 2,447 0
Lib Dems 1,284 0
Other 1,740 0
Turnout 47.7%

Labour's vote "collapsed" and former Labour MS Alun Davies lost his seat, describing it as a "historic turning point" and calling for Keir Starmer's resignation. This constituency was notable as Reform UK came a close second to Plaid Cymru, jointly winning all six seats between them.

Key Policy Stances & Controversies

20mph Speed Limit Opposition

Cullen actively opposes the Welsh Government's default 20mph speed limit policy, which Reform UK has pledged to scrap.

In April 2026 (during the election campaign), she posted a campaign video on Facebook criticising the "blanket 20mph speed limit all over Wales" — but was widely mocked online because a 50mph speed limit sign was clearly visible over her shoulder in the footage.

Key reactions:

  • Social media users questioned whether the video was a parody or satire
  • Critics pointed out the irony of claiming a "blanket" 20mph limit while standing in front of a 50mph sign
  • Commenters called it "slapstick comedy at its best" and "genuinely like a sketch"
  • Cullen later responded that she had "a good laugh" at the comments while studying for her doctorate
  • She then disabled commenting on the video

The then-incumbent Labour candidate Alun Davies called it "typical of Reform — all mouth and no basic understanding or knowledge."

Reform UK's Welsh leader Dan Thomas had labelled the 20mph policy "stupid," and the party pledged to scrap the default while retaining 20mph limits near schools and hospitals.

Personal Background

  • Reportedly pursuing a doctorate (mentioned in her Facebook response to the 20mph controversy: "studying for my doctorate")
  • Active on Facebook where she posted campaign content
  • No known X/Twitter account identified under her name; may use handle @CathyFazza (unconfirmed)

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — Catherine Cullen (British politician)
  2. Wales Online — Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni election results (8 May 2026)
  3. Nation.Cymru — Reform Senedd candidate mocked for blasting 20mph speed limit while standing on a 50mph road (27 April 2026)
  4. 7th Senedd Wikipedia page

Notes

  • No personal website, Senedd profile page, or X/Twitter account could be reliably confirmed at time of writing
  • No known previous political office or local government experience found
  • The Senedd member pages had not been updated to include newly elected members as of the research date
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