Dan Thomas, a former Conservative leader of Barnet council, has been appointed as Reform UK's leader in Wales by Nigel Farage. The announcement was made at a sold-out rally at the International Convention Centre Wales near Newport, three months before the Senedd elections. Farage received a standing ovation before introducing Thomas, while journalists were jeered and booed during the media conference.
Thomas led Barnet council between 2019 and 2022, when the north London council was taken by Labour. He defected to Reform UK last summer and stood down as a councillor for Finchley Church End in December to return to his hometown of Blackwood in the south Wales valleys. Farage said he chose Thomas because he is 'battle hardened' and has experience running budgets and facing opposition.
Thomas said: 'We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to smash Labour's failing grip in Wales. I will pour my heart and soul into fighting for every vote.' Before Thomas's appointment, Farage introduced James Evans, the Senedd member for Brecon and Radnorshire, as the party's newest Conservative defector. Evans was sacked by the Tories last month and has since sat as an independent, bringing Reform's number of MSs to two.
Polling last month suggested Reform's support has dropped from 29% to 23% of the vote, but such a result would still allow the party to increase its two MSs to 23. Farage said Thomas would have 'full autonomy' on Welsh policy and in dealing with devolved governance matters. Reform UK candidates for Senedd lists will be announced in the first half of March, with nearly 100 candidates across 16 new constituencies.
Currently, Reform's policies in Wales include abolishing the 20mph speed limit in urban areas and reopening coal mines and blast furnaces at Port Talbot's steelworks, despite criticism that these plans are 'technically impossible'. Thomas said a 'positive, ambitious' manifesto would be announced soon.
