Dan Thomas led Reform to a breakthrough election result (Image: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
Dan Thomas, the leader of Reform in the Welsh Parliament, has announced he is stepping down from the leadership of the group. Mr Thomas said he had been “reported to the police” at the weekend and was resigning as leader for “personal reasons”.
The Press Association reported Mr Thomas was arrested on suspicion of controlling or coercive behaviour.
Get the latest politics news – straight from our team in Westminster and more
Invalid email
You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info.
Mr Thomas said in a statement: “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.”
Gwent Police said in a statement: “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.”
Reform won 34 seats to become the biggest opposition party in May’s historic election which saw Labour lose power for the first time since the launch of Welsh devolution in 1999.
Mr Thomas, who took the helm of Reform in Wales in February, led Barnet London Borough Council from 2019 to 2022 as a Conservative councillor.
His resignation comes on the same day that Senedd member Sarah Cooper-Lesadd has defected from Reform to pro-independence Plaid Cymru. The former Conservative parliamentary candidate claimed the “party centrally has no interest in Wales”.
A Reform Wales spokesperson: “As soon as we discovered Sarah Cooper-Lesadd is in favour of Welsh independence and the break-up of the United Kingdom, we planned to expel her from Reform UK.
“Her separatist sympathies are not welcome in our party. Our policy on maintaining the Union is clear. Plaid are welcome to her, she is now in her third party in two years.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stressed that “people are innocent until proven guilty” but said: “Earlier this year I said Nigel Farage was doing my spring cleaning. He took a large number of very problematic people from the Conservatives. Reform is where they belong.”