Nigel Farage unveiled a new Reform UK leader in Wales less than a week after Dan Thomas quit following his arrest over allegations of controlling or coercive behaviour, which he denies
Nigel Farage has admitted that Reform UK suffered a “bump in the road” when Reform UK’s leader in Wales unexpectedly stepped down after being arrested.
Mr Farage admitted it was “untenable” for Dan Thomas to remain at the helm in Wales. He went on to say he was sorry for Mr Thomas’s “personal difficulties” after he was arrested and later released on suspicion of controlling or coercive behaviour.
Mr Thomas resigned last week, but will remain a member of the Senedd. He denies wrongdoing. On Monday morning Mr Farage unveiled Mr Thomas’s former deputy, Helen Jenner, as his successor.
Addressing reporters, Mr Farage said: “We will carry on as if nothing had happened, waiting for Dan, who is going to stay a member of this place, to come back more actively with us.” He added: “We could have done without this bump in the road but we’re making the best of it.”
He went on to praise Mr Thomas, a former Tory council leader who defected to Reform and has led the party in Wales since February. Mr Farage stated: “I think in the first six months we established ourselves as a very effective opposition and I have to say Dan Thomas was doing a brilliant job.
“He came to our national conference and spoke and certainly had the support of not just our Welsh members but also more broadly across the United Kingdom. I am sorry for his personal difficulties that he’s going through. No one’s life is ever seamless and I’m pretty sure he will come out of these before too much. It was pretty much untenable for him to continue as leader.”
In a statement last Tuesday, Mr Thomas said: “It has been the honour of my life to have been the leader of Reform Wales and see this party go from zero to 34 elected members and become the largest opposition group in Welsh history.
“With deep regret, I am now standing down from this position due to personal reasons. Over the weekend, I was reported to the police and was released without charge.
“I stress that I have done nothing wrong, but I do not want the coming headlines to be a distraction from the fantastic work our Senedd team is doing in holding this government to account. I will continue to serve my constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and will fully back whoever the group selects as its next leader.”
Mr Thomas, who grew up in Wales, was the Conservative leader of Barnet Council from 2019 to 2022 and joined Reform UK last year. In December he quit as a councillor for Finchley Church End after returning to Wales with his family.
In a statement, Gwent Police said: “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. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.”
Ms Jenner said: “I am intending to build on the great work that we have already been doing here in holding Plaid Cymru to account and will continue to build on our successes and becoming the government in 2030.”