Anna Turley, chair of the Labour Party, said: “The exploitation of children by grooming gangs is an appalling scandal and this Labour Government is determined to deliver justice for the survivors.
“As the Prime Minister and Home Secretary promised the survivors, the scope of the inquiry will not change. It will examine the ethnicity and religion of offenders, have full powers to compel witnesses and uncover the truth.
“While the Tories failed to act as this crisis was unfolding, and Reform shout from the sidelines, this Labour government is getting on with the job of delivering a national inquiry: putting survivors at the heart of the process and holding the institutions that failed them to account.”
Nigel Farage Makes Huge Announcement at Reform Press Conference
Nigel Farage has made another significant announcement for Reform UK as the party seeks to strengthen its organisation and political presence across Britain. The latest development came in Wales, where Farage appeared alongside Helen Jenner to announce her appointment as the new leader of Reform UK Wales.
The announcement, made outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on September 21, 2026, followed the departure of former Welsh leader Dan Thomas. Jenner, a Senedd Member representing Bangor Conwy Môn, had previously served as the party’s deputy leader in Wales. Her appointment places her at the centre of Reform’s efforts to consolidate its Welsh operation following a period of internal disruption.
Farage described Jenner as a longstanding and determined campaigner whom he had known for many years. He said he trusted her and believed she would perform well in the leadership role. Jenner herself said she was “thrilled” to have the backing of her colleagues and indicated that Reform would continue challenging the established political parties in Cardiff Bay.
The announcement is important because Reform’s performance in Wales has become one of the more closely watched developments in British politics. The party made major gains in the 2026 Senedd election, turning itself into a substantial force within Welsh politics. Its challenge now is not simply to win votes but to maintain an effective organisation capable of operating inside the Senedd and across Welsh constituencies.
A Change of Leadership
Jenner’s elevation came after Dan Thomas stepped down as leader of Reform UK Wales.
Thomas announced his resignation after reports that he had been arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. He was later released without charge and said that he had done nothing wrong. Farage expressed sympathy for Thomas and said he believed the former Welsh leader had been doing a “brilliant job”, but acknowledged that continuing in the position had become difficult.
The leadership change therefore had a practical dimension. Reform needed a new figure who could represent the party publicly while continuing its work in the Senedd.
Jenner was a natural choice because she had already occupied a senior position within the Welsh organisation. She has served as the Member of the Senedd for Bangor Conwy Môn since May 2026 and had previously worked as a teacher for 15 years. She is also a fluent Welsh speaker and had already taken part in prominent parliamentary duties for Reform.
Her background gives her a role that extends beyond party management. Reform is attempting to establish itself as a permanent political presence in Wales, and its leadership needs to engage with issues that are specific to Welsh voters as well as the broader themes associated with Farage’s UK-wide political agenda.
Farage’s Role in the Announcement
Farage’s presence at the announcement underlined the importance he attaches to Reform’s Welsh operation.
The Reform leader has increasingly focused on building the party beyond Westminster. While Reform’s national profile remains closely connected with Farage personally, the party’s growth has created a need for stronger regional leadership.
The announcement in Cardiff therefore represented more than a personnel change. It was also a demonstration that Farage intends to remain directly involved in the party’s development throughout the United Kingdom.
Reform’s own account of the announcement described Jenner as a “longstanding and determined campaigner”. The party said she would serve as both leader of Reform UK Wales and group leader in the Senedd.
For Jenner, the immediate challenge is translating Reform’s electoral gains into a functioning political operation. That means organising the Senedd group, developing policies for Wales and responding to the Welsh Government and other parties on legislation and public services.
Reform’s Wider Expansion
The Welsh announcement comes at a time when Reform UK is attempting to turn electoral momentum into a broader political organisation.
The party’s 2026 conference in Birmingham earlier in September was dominated by plans for what it described as its first 100 days in government. Farage announced that a Reform government would declare a national emergency on its first day in office and presented a series of policies covering immigration, energy, the NHS and taxation.
Among the proposals announced during the conference was a pledge to stop small-boat crossings within the first 100 days. Farage also promoted an agreement with Jordan Bardella, president of France’s National Rally, concerning cooperation over illegal immigration.
These announcements demonstrate the contrast between Reform’s national political agenda and the more specifically Welsh responsibilities now facing Jenner.
In Wales, Reform must address questions involving education, health, the Welsh language, local government and the Senedd itself. Jenner’s previous experience as an education professional could become particularly relevant as she develops the party’s Welsh political identity.
Internal Challenges
The leadership announcement also came after a difficult period for Reform.
The party’s September conference was overshadowed by allegations concerning political donations and whether rules governing overseas funding had been properly observed. Farage denied wrongdoing and said he understood British electoral law. Reform also faced scrutiny over the actions of individuals connected with its fundraising operation.
Reuters reported earlier in September that Reform had received a £4 million donation from cryptocurrency entrepreneur Ben Delo, accounting for 75 percent of the party’s donations in the quarter examined by the news agency. The issue has added to scrutiny of Reform’s finances at a time when the party is expanding rapidly.
Farage subsequently argued that further investigations could emerge. At the same time, Reform sought to move the political discussion back towards its policy programme.
The situation illustrates one of the central challenges facing a rapidly growing political party: electoral expansion can increase scrutiny just as quickly as it increases influence.
What the Announcement Means for Wales
Jenner’s appointment gives Reform an opportunity to stabilise its Welsh leadership after the disruption surrounding Thomas.
Her task will not simply be to defend Reform’s existing support. She will also need to demonstrate that the party can function effectively within the Welsh political system.
At the Senedd, Reform operates alongside Labour, Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and other political forces. Its representatives therefore face the practical demands of parliamentary politics: scrutinising government decisions, proposing amendments, debating legislation and maintaining relationships with voters in their constituencies.
Jenner has already indicated that she intends to continue challenging the established political order. Reform’s opponents, however, have questioned whether the party can provide stable political leadership following changes among its Welsh representatives. ITV reported that Welsh Labour raised questions about Reform’s stability after the leadership change and the departure of another member.
Those competing interpretations will form part of the political debate surrounding Jenner’s tenure.
Farage Looks Beyond Westminster
The announcement also reflects Farage’s broader strategy.
Reform is no longer simply a Westminster protest movement. Its representatives now operate at multiple levels of British politics, including Parliament, local authorities and the Senedd.
That creates new demands on Farage as party leader. He must maintain a national message while allowing regional politicians to establish their own political identities.
Wales is particularly significant because its political system differs from Westminster and because issues such as the Welsh language and devolved public services have a distinctive place in political debate.
By selecting Jenner, Farage has placed an experienced Senedd member at the centre of that operation. Whether she can turn the party’s electoral support into sustained political influence will depend on how Reform performs in the Senedd and how effectively it responds to Welsh voters’ priorities.
A New Chapter for Reform Wales
The announcement may therefore prove significant beyond the immediate leadership change.
For Farage, it represents another step in the development of Reform as a nationwide political organisation. For Jenner, it marks the beginning of a much more prominent political role.
Her appointment comes at a moment when Reform is simultaneously expanding, facing increased scrutiny and attempting to present itself as a potential governing party. Its national conference demonstrated the scale of its ambitions, while the Welsh leadership change highlighted the practical difficulties that accompany rapid growth.
The coming months will show whether Reform can maintain organisational discipline while developing policies tailored to different parts of the United Kingdom.
For now, Farage’s announcement has provided the party with a new face in Wales and a clear message that Reform intends to remain active in Cardiff Bay.
Helen Jenner’s leadership is consequently likely to be judged not simply by the circumstances of her appointment, but by what Reform Wales does next: how it operates in the Senedd, how it responds to the Welsh Government and how it builds its political organisation ahead of future elections.
The announcement may have been made at a relatively simple press conference outside the Senedd, but its significance lies in the wider question it raises: can Reform UK transform electoral breakthroughs into a durable political organisation across the United Kingdom? That remains an open political question, and Jenner’s tenure in Wales will be one part of the answer.