The Senedd group will meet immediately following the shock news of leader Dan Thomas’ departure from the role
Reform UK will on Wednesday begin the process of appointing a new leader after Dan Thomas stood down after being arrested by police.
Mr Thomas resigned on Tuesday after it emerged he had been arrested on suspicion of assault and coercive/controlling control.
Reform UK’s chief whip, Llyr Powell MS, admitted it had been a “challenging” day.
He was asked on BBC Radio Wales on Wednesday if Mr Thomas should remain in the Senedd. He said the investigation was ongoing and added: “I don’t want to presume anything”.
He said it was right for Mr Thomas, and his family’s wellbeing, he would stand down. He denied Mr Thomas’ presence in the Senedd would be a “distraction”.
“We’ll wait for whatever judgement comes,” he said. “In this country we have due process.” For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Reform UK’s Welsh Senedd group was set to meet on Wednesday morning with Helen Jenner, the deputy leader, as interim leader.
The group has a constitution, Mr Powell said, which determines the process of how a new leader will be selected.
The rules will be set there but he said if only one candidate puts their name forward there will be no contest. If there is more than one then there will be a vote of Reform UK Senedd members.
He said he expects the process to be concluded by the end of September.
Mr Powell said he expected there would be some people who would put their names forward on Wednesday.
But who could be in the running?
Llŷr Powell
A stalwart in Nigel Farage’s political journey in Wales Mr Powell refused to rule himself in our out of the race when he was asked on Wednesday morning.
He said he hadn’t had time to consider it.
He stood in the crucial Caerphilly by-election last October and lost but was elected to the Senedd in May. Since becoming chief whip he has been a key player in setting up the group as well as coaching staff and determining policy.
In terms of experience he is one of those who has been close to Nigel Farage, and key players in Reform’s Millbank HQ, and knows how the Senedd works.
Laura Anne Jones
Ambitious, certainly, and the most experienced Senedd politician in the group having served in the National Assembly, as was, from 2003 until 2007 and then again for the last six years. As a Welsh Conservative Laura Anne Jones was elected as a regional member in South Wales East for the second time in 2020. In 2025 she revealed a shock defection to Reform UK and was unveiled by Nigel Farage at the Royal Welsh Show and was elected to represent the party in Sir Fynwy Torfaen in May 2026.
James Evans
Another Conservative who defected to join the group James Evans’ journey into Reform wasn’t straightforward. However he is one of those sat on the front row of the group in the Senedd chamber alongside the other obvious frontrunners.
He holds the key health brief for the party and is clearly ambitious.
He has hinted he won’t stand again in 2030 as he wants to have a life away from politics and start a family so would such a high-profile role be a step too far?
Speaking to the BBC in July Mr Evans said “as things stand today I won’t be standing in 2030”.
He said it was going to be “a long goodbye” and “a lovely four years for me to go”.
“I’m a big believer that some people can go on in politics too long. It was always my intention to only stand two terms.
“I’ve got a wife… I’d like to start a family,” he said. “We’re seen as a bit of public commodity that can be attacked and then, obviously, that spills into our family life, and I don’t want to be bringing up children in that environment.”
Helen Jenner
The current deputy leader, and now interim, Ms Jenner is a former teacher who represents Bangor Conwy Mon. Thrust into the hotseat when Dan Thomas missed First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday she held her own against Rhun ap Iorwerth.
A Welsh speaker, she has experience from outside of politics she can bring to the table.
Jason O’Connell
One of the core members of Reform UK in Wales Jason O’Connell’s name was touted during the last leadership contest as he is seen as a safe pair of hands by those in power in the party.
He did a lot of media work before the election and he’s been given the economy and transport brief under Dan Thomas.
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