Leader of Reform UK in Wales stands down after arrest on suspicion of assault

The leader of Reform UK in Wales is standing down after he was arrested and bailed on suspicion of assault.

Dan Thomas, a former Tory councillor, was announced as Reform UK’s Welsh leader by Nigel Farage in February. He was elected to the Senedd as leader of the opposition in May’s election.

However, it emerged on Tuesday that Thomas would not be taking part in questions for the first minister of Wales at the Welsh parliament on Tuesday. Reform said he was absent for “personal reasons”.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon Thomas said: “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 is the former leader of Barnet council in north London, but is originally from Blackwood, Caerphilly.

In a statement, Gwent police said: “On Sunday 13 September a 45-year-old man, from the Aberbargoed area, was arrested on suspicion of assault … He has been bailed pending further inquiries.”