Dan Thomas has resigned as Reform UK's Welsh leader following a police report made against him over the weekend, according to a statement from the party.
Thomas, who was appointed to lead the Welsh branch by Nigel Farage in February, said he was released without charge after the report. He emphasized that he had committed no wrongdoing but chose to step aside to prevent negative headlines from overshadowing his party's legislative work.
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.
Thomas cited personal reasons for his departure from the leadership role. He did not attend First Minister's Questions on the day of his announcement, marking a notable absence from the Welsh Parliament's proceedings.
The resignation comes less than a year after his appointment to lead Reform UK's efforts in Wales, where the party has sought to establish itself as a significant political force in the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament. His departure represents a significant development for the party's Welsh operations at a time when it has been working to build its presence across the United Kingdom's constituent nations.
Thomas's decision to step down reflects his stated concern that ongoing media attention surrounding the police report could undermine the legislative agenda being pursued by Reform UK's Senedd members. The party has positioned itself as an opposition force focused on scrutinizing the Welsh Government's policies and decisions.
