Dan Thomas has stepped down as Reform’s leader in Wales for “personal reasons”. He says he was reported to the police over the weekend and released without charge:
“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.”
Meanwhile Reform MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd has defected to Plaid. Read her full statement below:
“Today I have left Reform UK and joined Plaid Cymru and its Senedd group.
“I grew up in the care system. I stood for the Senedd to be a voice for care-experienced people, who are still badly under-represented in our politics. I want to improve people’s lives, stand up for people who are overlooked and get things done. My approach is evidence-led and rooted in what works for our communities.
“Reform has no interest in the work I came here to do. They are not serious about governing Wales. They are far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions. There is a real appetite in the group to want the government to fail, and no interest in what that failure would mean for the people we represent.
“They oppose measures without any coherent explanation. I wanted to vote for the supplementary budget, which every party should have supported, and I argued against tabling the Nation of Sanctuary debate, and I was criticised for sitting it out. Having just spoken about my own childhood trauma, I could not in good conscience sit through it.
“I cannot support Reform’s attacks on people seeking sanctuary or other vulnerable groups. I particularly reject the way minorities have too often been used as political targets. I do not believe anyone should be scapegoated or dehumanised to win votes, and I will not be part of a politics that does that.
“The party centrally has no interest in Wales. Their Senedd group is a staging post in the effort to get Nigel Farage into Downing Street, and that was glaringly obvious at its conference this week.
“To everyone who voted Reform in May: I have not stopped listening to you. You told me you felt ignored and let down. Those concerns are real, and they will be answered by delivery, not division.
“Wales is a small country with enormous potential. Devolution is how that potential is realised, with decisions made closer to the people they affect.
“I believe in a Wales that is confident, compassionate and ambitious. A Wales that uses the powers it has to improve people’s lives and seeks the powers it still needs.
“Plaid is serious about governing, serious about delivery and serious about Wales. It is a party that believes in our communities and believes Wales can do more when decisions are made closer to the people they affect.
“I know what I am asking of Plaid members who spent May campaigning against the party I stood for, and I will work to earn their trust.
“I came into politics to give people a voice, improve lives and get things done, including for every child growing up in care in Wales today. Plaid Cymru is the best place for me to do that, and I am ready to get to work.”
Boris spoke to GB News about Labour’s attempts to restrict donations:
“It looks absolutely pathetic. Just because some people want to support one party very generously, Labour kicks up a huge fuss and says they’re going to cap donations.
I just saw Richard Tice on your show just now. I have to say I rather agree with him.
They’ve got huge amounts of money – troughing it from the trade unions. It’s absolutely ridiculous Labour are trying to cap donations.”