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Dan Thomas has stepped down from his role as the leader of Reform Wales following his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. The 45-year-old politician from Aberbargoed, Caerphilly, was released on bail by Gwent Police while investigations continue. In an official statement, the Member of the Senedd for Casnewydd Islwyn emphasized that he was “released without charge” and asserted that he had “done nothing wrong,” citing personal reasons for his resignation.
Thomas had been appointed as the leader of the Welsh branch of Reform UK by Nigel Farage in February. Since his election to the Senedd in May, he oversaw a significant rise in the party’s representation, growing from two members to 34 and becoming the main opposition group to Plaid Cymru, who lead the Welsh government. Despite this advancement, Thomas did not attend the First Minister’s Questions session on the day his resignation was announced. He expressed pride in his role, stating: “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.” He also assured that he will continue to represent his constituents and support his successor.
The arrest and resignation occurred on the same day that Reform MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd defected to Plaid Cymru, prompting harsh criticism from political opponents. Marc Jones, chair of the Plaid Cymru Senedd group, remarked, “Reform UK is descending into chaos,” adding that Cooper-Lesadd’s departure demonstrated the party’s focus on “division and headlines, not governing Wales.” Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates called the situation “quite incredible news,” pointing out that Thomas was a personal choice of Nigel Farage and highlighting what he described as poor judgement by Reform UK’s leadership. Similarly, Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Mims Davies condemned the party’s controversies, mentioning previous scandals and raising concerns about Reform UK’s overall leadership. Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, noted that “the wheels are rapidly coming off Reform in Wales and the entire country.”
Born and raised in Blackwood, within the South Wales Valleys, Thomas has familial ties to the mining community, with both his grandfather and great-grandfather having worked as miners. He shared memories of growing up in Wales but noted that “good opportunities” were scarce, which led him to leave as an adult. His career path included working in financial services in London and eventually becoming a councillor, followed by leadership of Barnet Council in north London. Thomas ran twice as a Conservative candidate in the Islwyn constituency during the 2010 and 2017 general elections, finishing second behind Labour’s Chris Evans on both occasions. After leading Barnet Council until 2022 and then serving as opposition leader, he left the Conservative Party in June 2025 to join Reform UK and subsequently resigned from the council late that year. Local reports indicated that Thomas moved to south Wales seeking a rural lifestyle to raise his family near relatives
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