POLITICAL campaigners and trade unionists united today to condemn the “dinosaur” views of a Reform UK Senedd candidate on childcare.

Reform’s candidate for the Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency, Mark Lawrence, was speaking at a hustings event on Monday evening when he said that all the women he knew wanted to stay at home to look after their children.

Plaid Cymru’s lead candidate on the list for Pontypridd Cynon Taf, Heledd Fychan, described Reform’s views on women as belonging “in the dinosaur section of a museum.”

She said: “Childcare shouldn’t only be seen as the responsibility of women either, and I can’t believe I have to say this in 2026.”

National Education Union national officer in Wales Mairead Canavan also attended the hustings and said she was horrified to hear a man tell the room that all women should be in the home looking after their children.

“This Reform candidate showed a complete lack of understanding of women’s lives — not only can we not afford to stay at home but, unbelievably, not all of us want to,” she said.

“I can’t say these views really surprised me but it was shocking that he was so comfortable displaying such open sexism in a hustings and then seemed surprised at the anger he could see in the room.”

A TUC Cymru spokesperson said: “No parent should be worse off because they work and need to use childcare.

“We have long campaigned for a well funded, sustainable childcare sector for Wales that puts children first and delivers for both parents and workers.”

Reform UK was asked to comment.