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Reform UK's first six months as Welsh Senedd opposition marked by absences and boycotts

32h

Summary

  • Reform UK became the official opposition in the Welsh Senedd in May 2026, the party's best result in a national parliament, holding more than a third of seats.
  • An investigation published on 13 November 2026 found Reform MSs were absent from 31 of 100 Senedd committee meetings between 8 May and 21 October 2026.
  • Senedd members and staffers speaking anonymously described paranoia, leader worship, a banned list of contacts, and an emphasis on disruption inside Reform UK's Welsh group.
  • Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas resigned in September 2026 after his arrest, and the group later boycotted the Senedd in solidarity with MS Joe Martin.
  • Reform UK called the investigation's claims outlandish, ridiculous and unsubstantiated.
  • The committee absences attributed to Reform were almost as many as those of all other Senedd parties combined.

Reactions

  • Reform UK said the claims were 'blatantly outlandish, ridiculous and unsubstantiated' and did not reply when asked which points this referred to.
  • Reform UK Wales's deputy leader said in September 2026 that Reform was the most effective, professional and united opposition the Senedd had ever seen.
  • Reform's Welsh leader Helen Jenner said the party would boycott the Senedd in solidarity with Joe Martin over his remarks.
  • A Reform MS told the investigator 'I am not allowed to be here or talk to you' and moved tables in the Senedd canteen.
  • Columnist Will Hayward argued Reform is not taking opposition seriously and said its Welsh record shows the rest of the UK what a Reform government would look like.
  • In a quoted WhatsApp message, Helen Jenner wrote about a Senedd women's policy group, 'Sort of makes me feel like we should go along and disrupt'.

Timeline newest first

  1. An investigation published on 13 November 2026 found Reform UK MSs were absent on 31 of 100 occasions from Senedd committee meetings between 8 May and 21 October 2026.
  2. Anonymous Senedd members and staffers told the investigation that Reform UK's Welsh group runs on paranoia and a banned list of organisations and journalists members may not talk to.
  3. Reform UK's Welsh leader Helen Jenner announced the party would boycott the Senedd in solidarity with Joe Martin, whom the speaker barred from speaking until he apologised for 'replacement' remarks.
  4. Reform UK's leader in Wales, Dan Thomas, resigned in September 2026 after being arrested and bailed on suspicion of assault and coercive or controlling behaviour, saying he had done nothing wrong.
  5. Reform UK lost one Senedd member through defection to Plaid Cymru during its first six months as the official opposition.
  6. In May 2026, Reform UK became the official opposition in the Welsh Senedd, winning the best national parliamentary result in the party's history.

Sources newest first

  • If you’re wondering what a Reform government might look like, just look at its chaotic record in Wales | Will Haywardtheguardian.com· 32h

    Will Hayward's Guardian column argues that Reform UK's first six months as the main opposition in the Welsh Senedd — a leadership resignation after an arrest, a boycott in solidarity with MS Joe Martin, and widespread committee absences — show the rest of the UK what a Reform government would look like. His investigation, built on anonymous Senedd sources, describes paranoia and a banned list of contacts; Reform UK calls the claims outlandish and unsubstantiated.