# Reform UK chaos: 3 Durham councillors quit after Welsh leader's arrest > Reform UK faces fresh turmoil as three Durham councillors resign following Welsh leader's arrest on suspicion of controlling behavior - Title: Reform UK chaos: 3 Durham councillors quit after Welsh… - Summary: Reform UK faces fresh turmoil as three Durham councillors resign following Welsh leader's arrest on suspicion of controlling behavior Reform UK loses 16… - Keywords: reform uk, durham county council, nigel farage, dan thomas, wales, controlling behavior, councillors, police arrest, safeguarding concerns, reform uk finances, news, entertainment - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16135739/Fresh-chaos-Reform-UK-three-Durham-councillors-quit-resignation-Welsh-leader-following-controlling-behaviour-arrest.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-09-16T11:24:48+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: reform uk, durham county council, nigel farage, dan thomas, wales, controlling behavior, councillors, police arrest, safeguarding concerns, reform uk finances, news, entertainment ## Councillors quit Reform UK Three Durham councillors, Lyndsey Fox, Nicole Brown, and Paul Sexton, have resigned from Reform UK to sit as independents on Durham County Council. > I raised a serious safeguarding concern which I subsequently reported to the police and to the Police and Crime Commissioner ## 16 councillors leave Reform since May Reform UK has lost 16 councillors on Durham County Council since May elections when the party won 65 seats to secure a majority. ## Welsh leader arrested Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas resigned after police arrested him on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behavior. > I was reported to the police and was released without charge ## Safeguarding concerns Lyndsey Fox raised a safeguarding issue with Reform leadership but received no response, instead being redirected to political roles. > While I would never expect the party to interfere with a police investigation, I did expect a safeguarding process ## Councillor criticism Lyndsey Fox said Reform focused on internal politics rather than serving residents, despite being elected to deliver for County Durham. > We were elected to deliver for County Durham, but too often the focus has appeared to shift towards internal politics ## Reform leader response Reform's Durham County Council leader Andrew Husband accused the councillors of betraying residents by using Reform colors and then abandoning them. > These people have let their residents down. They have conned them using Reform colours and betrayed the many members ## Welsh leader's statement Dan Thomas resigned from Reform Wales for personal reasons but will continue as a Senedd member and support whoever becomes the next leader. > I will continue to serve my constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and will fully back whoever the group selects as its next leader ## Police report Gwent Police arrested a 45-year-old man from Aberbargoed on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behavior. > On Sunday 13 September a 45-year-old man, from the Aberbargoed area, was arrested on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour ## Reform finances under scrutiny Reform UK faces investigation into foreign donations after senior figures were filmed discussing how to disguise donations from foreign sources. > Detectives from the Metropolitan Police are investigating after senior Reform figures were filmed appearing to discuss how to disguise donations from foreign sources ## Nigel Farage's gift under review Nigel Farage is under investigation by Parliament's standards watchdog over a £5 million gift from billionaire Christopher Harborne. > Nigel Farage's Reform UK has been plunged further into chaos by the resignation of three more local councillors ## Councillor's safeguarding claim Lyndsey Fox reported to police and the Police and Crime Commissioner about safeguarding concerns but received no meaningful follow-up from Reform. > I entered local politics because I wanted to make a difference for Bishop Auckland and County Durham ## Reform's internal politics Reform UK has been criticized for shifting focus from serving residents to internal political positioning for future elections. > Too often the focus has appeared to shift towards internal politics and positioning for future elections rather than the job residents elected us to do ## Reform's financial controversy Reform UK denies wrongdoing in foreign donations investigation but faces scrutiny over its financial practices. > Reform denies any wrongdoing and has said it will co-operate fully with the probe ## Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas was named Reform's Welsh leader in February and led the party to become the second largest in the Senedd at May elections. > Mr Thomas was named Reform's Welsh leader in February and led the party to become the second largest in the Senedd at elections in May ## Reform's leadership crisis Reform UK is experiencing a leadership crisis with multiple resignations and investigations into its financial practices. > Reform UK has been plunged further into chaos by the resignation of three more local councillors ## Safeguarding concerns Lyndsey Fox raised a safeguarding issue with Reform leadership but received no response, instead being redirected to political roles. > I would never expect the party to interfere with a police investigation, but I did expect a safeguarding process ## Key takeaway Reform UK loses 16 councillors since May after Welsh leader Dan Thomas resigned following police arrest for alleged controlling behavior