A recent controversy has arisen between a supermarket chain and a Reform UK councillor over the opening of a new store. David Thomas, a Torfaen councillor, posted on social media claiming he had officially opened a new Lidl in Cwmbran. The post included pictures of him cutting a ribbon alongside store workers and two other Reform councillors. However, Lidl stated that no official ribbon-cutting ceremony had taken place and no formal invitations were extended, leading to the deletion of Thomas’ post.
The dispute escalated when Thomas accused Lidl of not wanting to be associated with his party and alleged that the store was acting politically. A source from Lidl denied these claims, stating that Thomas’ opinions did not align with the facts. This clash comes on the heels of Thomas making headlines for being listed as a composer on songs containing derogatory language towards women, a situation that Reform has denied. Labour has condemned the lyrics as misogynistic and called for Thomas’ resignation.
Despite the controversy, Thomas, representing the Llantarnam ward in Torfaen, has set his sights on standing as a candidate in the 2026 Senedd election. Reform UK is optimistic about securing multiple seats in Cardiff Bay. Meanwhile, Lidl reaffirmed its stance as a non-partisan business and clarified that no official ribbon-cutting had occurred during the Cwmbran store opening. The supermarket contacted Thomas to request amendments to his social media posts and to address concerns from colleagues whose images were shared without consent.
In response to Lidl’s actions, Thomas contended that he was invited to the store opening by Torfaen council officials and refuted claims that the images were taken spontaneously. He insisted that the situation was politically motivated and criticized Lidl for requesting the removal of the photos once they discovered his affiliation with Reform UK. Despite the ongoing dispute, Thomas remains firm in his belief that the store’s actions were unwarranted and driven by political bias
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