Nigel Farage has played down the loss of Reform UK’s last leader in Wales as a “bump in the road”. The Clacton MP was unveiling the party’s new regional leader after Dan Thomas stood down last Tuesday. He was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviours. He has been bailed and says he has done nothing wrong. The former Tory councillor is still a member of the Welsh parliament, and has been Reform’s Welsh leader since February. The role was previously filled by Nathan Gill, who led the party in Wales for two months in 2021. He was jailed for 10 and a half years in 2025 for taking Russian bribes. Reform’s main leader Farage announced today that his ally Helen Jenner, previously the deputy leader in Wales, would be taking over. Alluding to Thomas’s exit, Farage said: “I am sorry for his personal difficulties that he is going through. No one’s life is ever seamless and I am quite sure he will come out of these before too long. “But it was pretty much untenable for him to continue as leader while he had these domestic disputes, so we very quickly and rapidly have moved to electing a new leader.” The new Welsh Reform UK Leader Helen Jenner speaks on the steps of the Sennedd beside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, on September 21, 2026 Farage said elections for a new Reform deputy leader in Wales would follow to fill Jenner’s old role. He added: “We will carry on as if nothing has happened, waiting for Dan who is going to stay a member of this place, to come back more actively with us. “We could have done without this bump in the road. But it has happened, we are making the best of it.” Thomas announced last weekend that he had been 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,” he said. Gwent police confirmed a 45-year-old man from Aberbargoed area was arrested on September 13 “on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour. He has been bailed pending further inquiries”. The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny on Reform and its finances. The party received £72 million in 48 hours from crypto-billionaires earlier this month, though Reform insists the donors want nothing in exchange. Farage is also subject to a parliamentary sleaze probe after he failed to declare a £5 million donation from Thailand-based Christopher Harborne once he became an MP in 2024. Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster. Related... Exclusive: Nigel Farage's Popularity Plummets Over Channel 4 Donations Sting Farage Would Stop Unions Funding Labour If Reform Forced To Hand Back Crypto Cash Anti-Reform Tactical Voting Could Scupper Nigel Farage's Hopes Of Power