Dan Thomas steps down as Welsh leader

Reform UK's Dan Thomas stood down last Tuesday after being arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviours. He has been bailed and insists he has done nothing wrong.

“I stress that I have done nothing wrong”

Helen Jenner elected as replacement

Helen Jenner, previously Reform's deputy leader in Wales, narrowly beat rival Jason O'Connell in a poll of the party's thirty three Senedd members to become the new leader.

Farage dismisses leadership crisis

Nigel Farage said Reform would carry on as if nothing had happened, calling the loss of Thomas a bump in the road. He said Thomas's domestic disputes made it untenable for him to continue.

“We could have done without this bump in the road”

Jenner brings Welsh credentials

Jenner is from Neath near Port Talbot in south Wales and represents Bangor Conwy Môn in the Senedd. She is a Welsh speaker and was a general election candidate for the Brexit party in two thousand nineteen.

Thomas was only recently appointed

The former Tory councillor was announced as Reform's Welsh leader in February. He was perceived by some as parachuted in from Reform headquarters in London, causing tensions within the party.

Arrest details emerge

Gwent police said a forty five year old man from the Aberbargoed area was arrested on thirteen September on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour. He was bailed pending further inquiries.

Reform faces further setbacks

Jenner takes charge as Reform deals with another blow: Senedd member Sarah Cooper-Lesadd defected to Plaid Cymru, claiming Reform was far more interested in division and opposition than finding solutions.

“far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions”