Tory candidate told to take down video calling for referendum on Senedd

The Welsh Conservatives have told one of their candidates to take down a social media post which called for a referendum on the future of the Welsh Parliament, against the policy of his own party.

Jake Enea called for a vote in a TikTok video, saying it was what people he spoke to in Newport wanted.

While some party members think devolution should be reversed and powers returned to Westminster, the party in Cardiff Bay does not.

A party spokesman said its policy on the issue was clear. The candidate's father said he could have worded the video better. Enea, who is on holiday abroad, was asked to comment.

In the video, Enea said he had been speaking to people in the Senedd constituency of Casnewydd Islwyn, where he is third on the list for the Conservatives at May's election.

He said the residents of the Allt-yr-yn suburb of Newport had asked "many questions" about devolution.

"Should we abolish the assembly, should we give it more powers, should we keep it the same?

"Many residents of Allt-yr-yn want a referendum on devolution and I fully support that."

After the video was posted to X, the original TikTok copy vanished.

In a statement, the Welsh Conservatives confirmed the party had asked him to take it down.

A spokesman said: "Our position on devolution is clear. Once we were made aware of this video, Jake was asked to take the video down, which has now happened."

Michael Enea, who is the candidate's father and is also a Conservative activist, said on X that Jake is one of the youngest Senedd candidates in Wales at the age of 21.

"In his campaign video, Jake was simply relaying genuine feedback from local residents - after canvassing - with the Conservatives," he said.

"In years to come, maybe there will be a referendum on the future of the Senedd - which could include abolish and independence.

"But that's a debate for future years and maybe future generations. That is what Jake was alluding to. Admittedly, he could've worded it better."

The party was embroiled in a row with its own members last summer after the Senedd's Conservative leader, Darren Millar, intimated that members who did not support devolution would not be able to stand for the party.

A party member who has called for the Senedd to be shut down was eventually selected for the seat of Caerdydd Penarth.

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