Nigel Farage dismissed the loss of Reform UK’s leader in Wales last week as a “bump in the road”, as the party unveiled a replacement.
asserted
party → dismiss → replacement
Helen Jenner becomes Reform UK’s new leader in Wales after Dan Thomas stood down last Tuesday after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviours.
asserted
he → become → assault
Jenner, who was previously Reform’s deputy leader in Wales, joined Farage on the steps of the Senedd, where he said the party would “carry on as if nothing has happened”.
asserted
nothing → join → Senedd
Thomas announced last week that he was standing down after his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
asserted
he → announce → assault
He has been bailed and insists he has done nothing wrong.
asserted
he → bail → nothing
The former Tory councillor, who remains a member of the Welsh parliament, was only announced as Reform’s Welsh leader by Farage in February.
asserted
who → remain → February
Jenner is from Neath, near Port Talbot in south Wales, and represents Bangor Conwy Môn in the Senedd.
asserted
Jenner → represent → Senedd
Paying tribute to Thomas, Farage said: “I am sorry for his personal difficulties that he is going through.
asserted
he → pay → that
No one’s life is ever seamless and I am quite sure he will come out of these before too long.
asserted
he → come → these
“But it was pretty much untenable for him to continue as leader while he had these domestic disputes, so we very quickly and rapidly have moved to electing a new leader.”
asserted
we → continue → leader
Farage confirmed that elections for a new Reform deputy leader in Wales would take place, adding: “We will carry on as if nothing has happened, waiting for Dan who is going to stay a member of this place, to come back more actively with us.
asserted
who → confirm → us
“We could have done without this bump in the road.
uncertain
We → do → road
But it has happened, we are making the best of it.”
asserted
we → happen → it
Thomas issued a statement last Tuesday after intense speculation about his future, saying that he had been reported to the police the previous weekend and was released without charge.
asserted
he → issue → 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,” he added.
asserted
he → stress → account
Gwent police said that a 45-year-old man from the Aberbargoed area was arrested on 13 September “on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour.
asserted
man → say → behaviour
He has been bailed pending further inquiries”.
asserted
He → bail → inquiries
While Thomas was perceived by some as having been parachuted in from Reform headquarters in London, which caused tensions, Jenner is a Welsh speaker who has a track record of having been involved with Farage’s parties and was elected to her new role by colleagues.
asserted
who → perceive → colleagues
One other candidate stood although it was not made public who they were.
asserted
they → stand → ?
She takes charge at a time when Reform is hoping to consolidate and build on its gains in Senedd elections earlier this year.
asserted
Reform → take → elections
It emerged as the second largest party, largely at the expense of the Conservatives and Labour.
asserted
It → emerge → Conservatives
However, she also takes charge of the party in Wales after it was rocked not only by the loss of Thomas but also the defection of another of its Senedd members, Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, to Plaid Cymru, which holds power.
asserted
which → take → power
Her departure sparked fury in Reform, with the party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, accusing her of lying to them about her political beliefs.
asserted
leader → spark → beliefs
Plaid Cymru said Cooper-Lesadd had been “honest about her political beliefs” and that her views had changed.
asserted
views → say → beliefs
Cooper-Lesadd, who was elected to the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg constituency, claimed that Reform UK was “far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions”.
asserted
UK → elect → solutions
Before Thomas took up the post, Nathan Gill, who briefly led Reform UK in Wales in 2021, was jailed for 10 and a half years in 2025 for taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia when he was an MEP.
asserted
he → take → Russia
The Aporia
