Reform UK Wales is the Welsh branch of the British political party Reform UK. Founded as the branch of the Brexit Party (the former name of Reform UK) in 2019, it has been led by Helen Jenner since September 2026. It participated in the 2026 Senedd election, where it emerged as the second-largest party in Wales behind Plaid Cymru, becoming the Official Opposition party.
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History
Following the 2016 Senedd election UKIP, led by future Reform UK Wales leader Nathan Gill gained 7 out 60 seats with 12.5% of the vote. Following infighting within the group, all members except for Neil Hamilton left the party. Nathan Gill resigned as Senedd Member (then known as Assembly Members) to stand for the 2019 European Parliament election, he as well as 4 Senedd Members: Mandy Jones, Caroline Jones, David Rowlands, and Mark Reckless joined the newly founded Reform UK (then known as the Brexit Party); Reckless became the Senedd group leader.
In August 2020 Caroline Jones left the party to sit as an independent. In October 2020, Reckless left the party and joined Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, while the other two members along with Caroline Jones formed the Independent Alliance for Reform. They all lost their seats in the 2021 Senedd election with Reform UK receiving only 1.1% of the vote.
In July 2025 and February 2026, Conservative Senedd Members Laura Anne Jones and James Evans respectively defected to Reform UK.
Following the May 2026 Senedd election Reform UK became the official opposition in the Senedd with 34 out of 96 seats, with 29.3% of the vote up from 1.1%. Plaid Cymru led a minority government, and Dan Thomas led the shadow cabinet.
In May 2026, a former Reform UK Senedd candidate, whose photograph was published by Nation.Cymru in which he appeared to perform a Nazi salute, became a special adviser to his party's leader, Dan Thomas.
In June 2026, former Reform UK Senedd candidate, Derek Roberts, was appointed as a special advisor to Reform UK Wales Senedd member, Gaz Thomas. Roberts quit as a Reform candidate after concerns were raised within the party about his Facebook account, due to Roberts social media featuring dozens of racist and anti-Muslim posts from 2022 to 2025. Roberts also openly posted in support of the far-right activist, Tommy Robinson.
On 15 September 2026, Dan Thomas resigned as leader of Reform UK Wales following his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. Deputy leader Helen Jenner became acting leader. Thomas said he would continue to serve as a Member of the Senedd.
On the same day, Reform MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd quit the party to join Plaid Cymru, saying that Reform had "no interest in Wales" and "are not serious about governing Wales". A Reform spokesperson said that the party had planned to expel her after discovering she was in favour of Welsh independence.
Relationship with the press
Reform UK have had a controversial relationship with press organisations and has avoided communicating with certain journalists, in Wales and other parts of the UK. In Wales multiple Reform UK representatives and senior figures have refused communicating or answering inquires by specific journalists following critical reporting of those individuals. The party barred independent Welsh journalist Will Hayward from attending its 2026 Senedd election manifesto launch.
The party has also been criticised for attacks, abuse and legally threats against journalists and media organisations critical of them, the National Union of Journalists condemned these actions.
Stance on devolution
Reform UK ruled out abolition of the Senedd in their 2026 manifesto, after Laura Anne Jones, the party's then sole Member of the Senedd, made comments that it would be a possibility in September 2025.
Surveys have found that among Reform UK's voter base, about two thirds would support abolishing the Senedd and Welsh devolution, which is much higher than the general population, of which only 29% support abolishing the Senedd.
While the party does not officially support abolition of the Senedd, it does not support any further devolution of powers. It also did not support the increase in the number of Senedd members for the 2026 election from 60 to 96.
In June 2026, Reform UK Wales' Shadow Health Minister James Evans justified his and the party's opposition to further devolution by saying "we’re not very good in Wales at being efficient in running things".