Former Conservative council leader tasked with building support ahead of Senedd elections

DAN THOMAS has been appointed as the new Welsh leader of Reform UK, in a move the party says will strengthen its organisation ahead of next year’s Senedd elections.

Thomas, a former Conservative council leader, will head Reform’s campaign across Wales as the party attempts to convert growing polling support into seats at devolved level for the first time.

The appointment marks Reform’s most significant step yet in formalising its Welsh structure, with the party seeking to present itself as a credible alternative to Labour, the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru.

Party sources say his brief is straightforward: build candidates, grow membership and turn dissatisfaction with mainstream politics into votes.

Shift from the Conservatives

Thomas’s move follows a broader trend of defections from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, both in Wales and across the UK.

In recent weeks, former Conservative Senedd member James Evans also switched allegiance, signalling unrest within Tory ranks and giving Reform higher-profile figures to front its Welsh campaign.

Reform has increasingly targeted voters frustrated with NHS waiting lists, cost-of-living pressures and rural economic concerns, arguing that the established parties have failed to deliver meaningful change.

Supporters say Thomas brings experience of local government leadership and campaigning, which they believe will help professionalise the party’s operations in Wales.

Critics hit out

However, opponents have been quick to criticise the appointment.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth described Thomas as effectively “Farage’s deputy”, claiming his role would be focused more on advancing the ambitions of Nigel Farage than developing policies tailored to Wales.

Plaid figures argue Reform is largely made up of former Conservatives and lacks detailed plans on devolved issues such as health, education and local government funding.

They have also pointed to the party’s past controversies, including the conviction of former Wales figure Nathan Gill, though Reform says it is now under new leadership and direction.

Election battle ahead

Recent polling suggests Reform could play a significant role in shaping the next Senedd, with support rising in parts of south and west Wales where voters have traditionally backed Labour or the Conservatives.

If those numbers translate into seats, Reform could disrupt the balance of power in Cardiff Bay and complicate coalition maths after the election.

For Thomas, the challenge will be turning protest votes into an organised ground campaign capable of winning constituencies under Wales’s proportional system.

Whether Reform’s momentum continues — or stalls under scrutiny — is likely to become clearer as candidates are selected and manifestos published in the months ahead.

Reform UK has said more details about its Welsh policy platform will be announced later this year.

Party says defecting Tories show Reform is ‘a vehicle for Westminster power, not Wales’

RHUN AP IORWERTH has launched a sharp attack on Reform UK after the party appointed a former Conservative council leader to head its Welsh operation, accusing the movement of existing solely to deliver Nigel Farage into Downing Street rather than serve Welsh communities.

The Plaid Cymru leader said Reform’s latest appointment and a string of Conservative defections prove the party is “recycled, washed-out Tories looking for a new political home” and warned voters that Wales risked becoming “a stepping stone” for Westminster ambitions.

Dan Thomas has been named Reform’s figurehead in Wales, a role Plaid has branded “Farage’s deputy”, with responsibility for building support ahead of the next Senedd election.

The move follows the defection of former Conservative Senedd member James Evans to Reform, making him the second ex-Tory MS to cross the floor.

‘Nothing to offer Wales’

Speaking ahead of a visit to businesses in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 5), Mr ap Iorwerth said Reform’s Welsh leadership change would make little difference to voters.

“Two more ex-Tories defecting to Reform UK should come as no surprise to the people of Wales,” he said.

“Now there is no doubt that Reform UK are simply recycled Conservatives looking for a new political home.

“It doesn’t matter who Farage has selected to represent him. The so-called leader’s sole responsibility will be to get Nigel Farage into No.10 Downing Street, because for Reform, Wales is nothing but a stepping stone.”

He added that Reform was “weak on solutions, weak on ideas, and weak on standing up for Wales”, and claimed only Plaid could prevent the party topping the poll at the next election.

Poll pressure

Recent opinion polling has suggested a fragmented Welsh political landscape, with Plaid Cymru and Reform both competing strongly in parts of south and west Wales, while Labour faces losses after years in government.

Reform has sought to capitalise on frustration over NHS waiting times, the cost of living and rural economic pressures, presenting itself as an anti-establishment alternative. The party has also targeted former Conservative voters disillusioned with Westminster politics.

Plaid, meanwhile, argues that Reform offers “London-centric” policies with little understanding of devolved responsibilities such as health and education.

Controversial past

Plaid figures also pointed to Reform’s previous leadership history in Wales, noting that former MEP Nathan Gill, once associated with the party’s earlier iterations, was recently convicted in a high-profile bribery case linked to pro-Russian lobbying. Reform has since distanced itself from past controversies and says it is building a new team.

Business focus

During his Llanelli visit, Mr ap Iorwerth said he would meet local traders to discuss energy costs, staffing pressures and economic growth.

“Plaid Cymru offers new leadership for Wales with credible plans for our communities, and the ambition Wales deserves,” he said.

Reform UK has been approached for comment.

The next Senedd election is expected to take place in May, with parties already positioning themselves for what could be one of the most competitive contests since devolution began.

COUNCIL TAX in Ceredigion is expected to rise by 4.7 per cent for the next financial year, following a better-than-expected funding settlement from the Welsh Government that has eased pressure on the county’s budget.

The increase is significantly lower than earlier projections, which had suggested a rise of close to nine per cent, and comes after additional grant funding was secured for local authorities across Wales.

Last year, council tax in Ceredigion rose by 9.3 per cent as part of the 2025–26 budget.

While council tax accounts for only part of the authority’s income, a key element of its funding comes from Aggregate External Finance (AEF) provided by the Welsh Government.

Under the provisional settlement, Ceredigion County Council was initially set to receive a 2.3 per cent uplift—around £3.39m—bringing its total settlement to approximately £150.67m. This placed Ceredigion joint 13th out of Wales’ 22 local authorities.

However, following a subsequent agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, further funding was made available to councils, improving Ceredigion’s financial position.

Speaking last November, before the enhanced settlement was confirmed, council leader Cllr Bryan Davies warned that early estimates suggested an 8.9 per cent council tax rise might be required. Further modelling of service pressures and potential operational savings later reduced that estimate to 6.9 per cent.

The improved funding outlook was outlined to Cabinet in January by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement, Cllr Gareth Davies, who proposed a 4.75 per cent increase as part of a draft budget requirement of £221.493m.

Members of the council’s Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard on Monday (February 3) that the position had improved again. Additional financial support towards the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service levy has allowed the projected increase to fall slightly further, to 4.7 per cent.

For a typical Band D household, this would equate to an increase of around £7.39 per month in the next financial year.

The committee agreed to note the revised figure. A formal recommendation on council tax levels will be considered by Cabinet on February 10, with the final budget decision due to be made by full council on March 2.