Speaking to the Guardian, he said: The picture of Welsh politics is changing and Plaid Cymru is the voice of progressive Wales. We have consistent polling showing Plaid Cymru in the lead. Reform is also polling well and Labour is falling further behind. I think it's becoming more and more clear it's a two-horse race - Reform's division versus Plaid's vision.
Atherton told the BBC she had joined Reform because of her concerns over a "loss of national identity and pressure on public services". She added that she had "had enough of 26 years of decline in Wales under a Labour and Plaid Cymru pact". Atherton added that she worried "like millions of others" about the direction the UK was heading.