Helen Jenner, a teacher, Welsh speaker and mother of two, will join Dan Thomas in leading the party’s campaign

REFORM Wales leader Dan Thomas has announced Helen Jenner as the party’s new deputy leader as it steps up preparations for the Senedd election on Thursday, May 7.

Jenner, who tops Reform’s regional list in Bangor Conwy Mon, was born in Neath and raised on Ynys Mon. She is a teacher by profession, a Welsh speaker, and a mother of two.

Announcing the appointment, Mr Thomas said the party wanted to draw on the strengths of its members as it heads into the election campaign.

He said: “Reform Wales is a team.

“And like every team, we need to draw on the skills and attributes of all of our members to get results.

“That’s why I’m excited to announce that Helen Jenner will join me in leading Reform into the Senedd election in May.”

Ms Jenner said Wales was at a “crossroads” and claimed Reform was the only party offering “ambitious, credible solutions” to the problems facing the country.

She said: “Wales is at a crossroads, and Reform is the only party offering ambitious, credible solutions to the problems the people of Wales face.

“As a proud Welsh woman, I believe the only party prepared to put our country first is Reform.

“I’m honoured to join Dan and our hard working members in this fight for a fairer, more prosperous Wales.

“Vote Reform on May 7 for the real change Wales deserves.”

The announcement comes as parties across Wales continue to unveil candidates and campaign teams ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.

Report finds a third of reception-age children are above a healthy weight as activity levels fall sharply in teenage years

A THIRD of children aged four and five in West Wales are above a healthy weight, according to new research which warns that too many young people are heading towards a future of preventable ill health.

The findings are included in a new State of the Region report commissioned by Activate West Wales, covering Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

The report found that fewer than one in four primary school children across the region are achieving the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. By secondary school age, that figure drops to just 19 per cent.

Researchers also identified a clear gap between boys and girls, with boys significantly more active. Between 22 and 24 per cent of boys meet the daily activity target, compared with just 13 to 14 per cent of girls.

Sedentary behaviour was also found to be high across the region, with children in some areas spending seven or more hours inactive on weekdays. Swansea and Neath Port Talbot recorded levels above the Wales average, while girls were found to be more sedentary than boys in all four local authority areas.

The report brings together data from a range of sources to highlight patterns, inequalities and areas where more targeted action could improve health and wellbeing through sport and physical activity.

There were some more positive findings. Children and young people in West Wales were found to be taking part in organised sport three times a week at a higher rate than the Wales average.

However, girls’ participation remained lower than boys in every local authority area.

The review also looked at demand for different activities. Children and young people with disabilities highlighted interest in weightlifting, tennis and archery, while those without disabilities most commonly chose swimming, football and cycling.

Dr Susan Barnes, chair of Activate West Wales, said: “This first State of the Region review gives us the most comprehensive picture to date of sport, physical activity and health across West Wales.

“The evidence in the report presents a clear and uncomfortable truth: unless we act decisively now, too many people across our regional footprint will face a future marked by preventable ill health, widening inequality, and diminished opportunity.

“Without intervention, today’s inactive child is highly likely to become tomorrow’s unhealthy adult.”

Jamie Rewbridge, chief executive of Activate West Wales, said tackling the problem would require long-term action across government, councils, health boards, schools, businesses, clubs and community groups.

He said: “This report is not an end point, but a starting line for lasting change.”

Change to HMRC rules will affect employees who pay their own homeworking costs, while firms can still reimburse staff tax-free

Employees in Wales who claim tax relief for extra household costs while working from home will lose that support from Monday (April 6), as new HMRC rules come into force at the start of the 2026-27 tax year.

The change removes the process that allowed eligible employees to claim income tax relief directly from HMRC for additional homeworking expenses, such as heating, electricity and business phone calls, when those costs were not reimbursed by their employer. Under the previous system, most claimants could use a flat rate of £6 a week without providing receipts.

The relief was widened during the coronavirus pandemic to cover employees who had to work from home because of public health restrictions rather than because of their specific employment duties. The Government announced in last year’s Budget that this tax relief would be removed from April 6, 2026.

Azets, the accountancy and business advisory firm, said the end of the relief could leave some workers out of pocket if they are still covering homeworking costs themselves. The firm said basic rate taxpayers could lose relief worth about £62 a year, while higher rate taxpayers could lose around £124. Those figures are based on tax relief on £6 a week, rather than a direct cash payment.

Clair Williams, Head of Employment Tax at Azets, said employers may now face questions from staff about whether homeworking costs should be reimbursed instead.

However, employers are still able to reimburse eligible homeworking expenses without charging income tax or National Insurance under existing HMRC rules.

HMRC guidance states that tax relief for working from home applies where an employee has to work from home, for example because their employer does not have an office, rather than simply choosing to do so. Employees can also still make claims for earlier eligible tax years, subject to the normal deadlines.

The Treasury says the measure will save money over the coming years, as ministers tighten the rules around homeworking expenses and bring to an end the broader relief that was introduced during the pandemic.