David Bevan wants the National Assembly for Wales abolished and has co-founded a new party with that purpose

A new political party has been launched in Wales with the goal of scrapping the National Assembly.

The UK Government plans to devolve new powers to the Assembly but the new group wants it axed.

The Abolish The Welsh Assembly Party is co-founded by David Bevan, who was previously a prominent Welsh figure in Ukip.

Mr Bevan quit Nigel Farage’s party after Ukip dropped its opposition to the Assembly. In June 2013 Mr Farage voiced support for a federal future for the United Kingdom .

Ukip’s then-MEP John Bufton opposed the shift in policy and said it would create the potential for a new party.

Mr Bevan, who was born in Cilfrew near Neath and now lives in Groes Faen, south of Llantrisant, said the party was still discussing its electoral strategy.

He stated: “We believe that the Welsh Assembly has failed to deliver for the people of Wales. We are therefore committed to getting rid of the Assembly.

“The Assembly is another expensive tier of Government which is totally unnecessary. We in Wales already have councillors, MPs, MEPs.

“How many tiers of government does Wales need?”

In May it was announced that AMs’ pay would go up from £54,000 to £64,000 in May 2016 following a ruling by the independent remuneration board – a move condemned by high-profile AMs in different parties.

Mr Bevan said: “When you consider the salaries of most people in Wales, this is outrageous. This, at a time when our local councils are facing huge cuts in services… Senior members of NHS staff and many others have moved to England to receive treatments unavailable to them in Wales.

“Standards of Education in Welsh schools have fallen well behind other areas of the UK.

Arguing that the Assembly should not gain new powers, he said: “We say, ‘Never reinforce Failure.’ Therefore, we will oppose any further transfer of powers from Westminster to Cardiff Bay.

“We will also oppose the plan to increase the number of seats in the Assembly from 60 now, to 80 or even 100 as proposed by pro-Assembly groups. Clearly this would add significantly to the cost of running the Assembly.

“It was only a few years ago that we had just councillors and MP’s working for the people of Wales. The Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party believe it is time to return to that system and get rid of this unnecessary tier in Cardiff Bay.

“We also believe that local democracy is delivered effectively by the 22 local authorities. We therefore oppose the Welsh Assembly Government’s plan to reduce their numbers.”

He added: “We have support from across Wales for the new party. This support comes, not only from the tens of thousands of people disillusioned with the Cardiff Bay Assembly, but also from many of those who voted against it in the 1997 referendum which brought it into being.”

The National Assembly first met in 1999 following the 1997 referendum which was won by a majority of 6,721 votes. A referendum on law-making powers for the Assembly was held in 2011, in which the Yes campaign won 63.5% of the vote on the back of a 35.6% turnout.