Jason O'Connell, a former independent councillor from Torfaen, has emerged as a central figure in the Reform UK party in Wales. Just two years after defecting to the party, he now serves as the group's economy spokesperson in the Senedd, where Reform UK holds 34 seats as the official opposition to the minority Plaid Cymru administration.
From Apprentice to Politician
Born in Pontypool and raised in Cwmbran, O'Connell began an apprenticeship at age 17 at St Athan in the aerospace and defence sector, where he worked for a decade. He credits the failed Red Dragon project—a £113m taxpayer-funded job-creation scheme for an aviation 'super hangar' at St Athan—with shaping his political views, particularly his distrust of Labour. The project, a collaboration between the MOD, Welsh Government, and Welsh Development Agency, cost many of his colleagues their jobs.
Despite not coming from a political family, O'Connell entered politics in his 30s after being an active debater on social media. He was first elected as an independent councillor, focusing on hyper-local issues like bins and potholes. 'I was clear because I was going for council, and I was so focused on the ward that I was in, the party politics really didn't play a role,' he explains.
Defection to Reform UK
After a brief stint in the Welsh Conservatives under Paul Davies, O'Connell returned to being an independent until Reform UK emerged. He was one of three Torfaen councillors who defected to Reform UK in 2024, unveiled at a special event wearing matching turquoise ties. The party's growth since then has been exponential, and O'Connell is now a key player in the Reform administration.
Reflecting on his decision, O'Connell says: 'My political beliefs have always been to the centre right and I felt that Reform held those values pretty well. Fiscally conservative, socially quite liberal and they promote more of the traditional family values.' He adds that joining Reform was 'a brave move' given the public criticism the party faced at the time, but says 'we haven't looked back since.'
Reform UK's Rise in Wales
Reform UK won 34 seats in the 2026 Senedd election, surpassing expectations. O'Connell admits he would have been 'delighted' with 25 seats. The party now has prominent committee roles and a budget of over £1m. O'Connell notes that the turning point came when campaigning in Merthyr Tydfil, where voters told him they were abandoning Labour. 'For the birthplace of the Labour Party, to come out and say they've had enough now of Labour, that was a pretty clear indicator for us that we were going to do okay,' he says.
As the official opposition, Reform UK has pledged to 'smash the Cardiff Bay consensus.' O'Connell says: 'We said before the election we're here to smash the Cardiff Bay consensus and that's the strategy that we've employed and that is exactly what we're going to do. I want to make this government and Plaid Cymru uncomfortable.'
Budget and Policy Priorities
O'Connell's party has indicated it will not support Plaid Cymru's supplementary budget unless its manifesto commitments are enacted. 'If they want to open the door to negotiation and start talking about what they can offer us to support the budget, then we're open to that,' he says. He criticises the government's handling of a £340m payment from the UK Government, arguing that targeting ALN provision for children is 'a really poor way to open up the gambit.'
On a local level, O'Connell prioritises job creation, aiming to 'flood the valleys with high quality jobs.' He points to defence manufacturing in Merthyr Tydfil, including General Dynamics' Ajax tank production and Marshall Land Systems, as a foundation to build upon.
Controversy and Walkout
Reform UK made headlines when Caerdydd Penarth MS Joe Martin's contribution to a debate led to a walkout by Plaid Cymru, Labour, and Green members. O'Connell defends Martin, saying his delivery was 'probably questionable' but his words were factual. He condemns the walkout: 'Plaid Cymru has got to show some backbone in these debates... their constituents were really disappointed with the fact they walked out of it at the slightest whiff of argument.'
O'Connell's journey from a 'gobs***e' teenager to a key political player underscores the rapid rise of Reform UK in Wales. He concludes: 'The growth of Reform in Wales has been fantastic and it's great to be a part of that.'
