Former deputy Helen Jenner unveiled as new leader of Reform UK in Wales
Eleanor Storey – Press Association
Reform UK has named Helen Jenner its new leader in Wales following the arrest and resignation of her predecessor.
Former deputy leader Ms Jenner, Member of the Senedd for Bangor Conwy Mon, will replace Dan Thomas, the party announced on Monday.
Mr Thomas was named the party’s Welsh leader in February and led Reform to become the second largest in the Welsh Parliament at an election in May.
He announced he was stepping down last week for “personal reasons” after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
Ms Jenner, a fluent Welsh speaker and mother-of-two, was born in Neath and raised on Anglesey.
She left Wales to pursue career opportunities, spending a decade living and teaching in the North West of England and in London before returning to Anglesey in 2019.
She was named deputy leader in April and elected Member of the Senedd for Bangor Conwy Mon at the Welsh Parliament election in May.
Plaid Cymru MS Rebeca Phillips said: “Even Reform’s own MSes have admitted that Helen Jenner does not command the support of the majority of their group, but her undying support to Farage, a man who has shown open contempt towards Wales, our language, and our people, means she got the job anyway.
“Reform UK have no interest in making a difference in the lives of people in Wales, and whoever Farage has chosen to be his next Welsh puppet makes no difference to that fact.
“While Reform UK in Wales try to appease their London bosses – Plaid Cymru is getting on with taking action on the priorities of the people of Wales, because we are answerable solely to the people of Wales, not Westminster.”
Ms Jenner will now lead the largest opposition group in the Senedd.
In a statement last week, Mr Thomas said: “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.”
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Being endorsed by Nigel Farage seeing his past record with former Reform leaders in Wales such as Nathan Gill, a Russian-backed traitor currently spending 10 years in prison, to Dan Thomas, a violent thug who cannot hold his temper, speaks volumes about his judgment. I wonder what lame excuse will be made when Helen Jenner gets sacked as leader?
First question she should face, is she happy to share the Senedd steps with a man that encouraged a violent attack on a woman at the conference, the same man then used his TV show to set the attack hounds on another woman because she spoke up in Piddlington. Is she happy that the senior party members then went on to belittle the violent assault including one councillor using a metal pole with one MP saying “Booo hooo”.
Going to hazard a guess that she dare not say anything because reform has form with OKing abuse.