Reform UK Welsh Leader Resigns After Assault Arrest

Reform UK’s leader in Wales has dramatically resigned after being arrested on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling coercive behaviour.

In a hammer blow for the party, Dan Thomas said he was was quitting “for personal reasons”.

He said he did not want “the coming headlines to be a distraction” from Reform’s work in the Welsh Senedd.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said: “On Sunday, September 13, 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.”

Thomas was released without charge and insisted he has done nothing wrong.

In a statement, he 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.”

Thomas’s resignation comes less than two weeks after he appeared on stage with Nigel Farage and other senior Reform figures at the party’s annual conference in Birmingham.

In a further blow for the party, a Reform member of the Welsh Senedd defected to Plaid Cymru.

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd said the national party “has no interest in Wales” so she was leaving.

She said: “Reform has no interest in the work I came here to do. They are not serious about governing Wales. They are far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions.”

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