By Ellie Gosley

Copyright walesonline

Nigel Farage appeared to pull a face when his new candidate to fight a Senedd by-election spoke to a press conference in Welsh. The Reform UK leader has been visiting Caerphilly to announce that communications specialist Llŷr Powell will be their candidate in the upcoming by-election. Mr Powell has worked in public, political and charitable organisations in Wales and the party says he has been based in Caerphilly for the past five years. His career has included roles in political communications and public affairs. When Mr Powell started addressing the gathered supporters in Welsh, Mr Farage appeared to pull a face on stage and afterwards said: “I understood much of that” before laughing. The by-election, which is due to take place due to take place on October 23, has been called after the death of MS Hefin David. Mr David died aged 47 at home in Nelson, Caerphilly, on August 12, the day before his birthday. An inquest into his death has opened but his cause of death remains “unascertained” with the results of a toxicology examination still pending. He had been a Senedd member since 2016. Plaid, Labour and Conservatives have also announced their candidates , but this is the first time that a party leader has come to Wales to make the announcement. The by-election could have knock-on implications to people all over Wales if Labour lose as it would crucially change the government’s position in the Senedd Mr Farage opened his press conference by saying: “I understand the tragic circumstances for which we are here today… I pay my condolences to the family but the wheels of democracy must turn. “It is little doubt that this will be the last by-election before May so this matters it is important” “We are in it to win it.. simple as that” He said there was still no answer on who the leader of Reform in Wales will be. Llŷr Powell said: “This is not a by-election any of us wanted. Hefin was an excellent Senedd member who was never tribal, committed to his community and made a real difference in education. “The local communities in Caerphilly deserve a Senedd member who will stand up for them after over 26 years of stagnation from Labour and Plaid. Only Reform UK is offering a chance at genuine change.”