Reform UK Wales — Daily News Digest

6 July 2026

🔴 Top Stories

1. Reform UK Suffers Humiliating By-Election Defeats Across Wales

Source: Nation.Cymru (26 Jun 2026) Headline: "Humiliating defeats for Reform UK in Welsh council by-elections"

Reform UK was pushed into third place in two council by-elections triggered by the election of previous Reform councillors to the Senedd. The party won only one of four seats it contested — in Rhyl South, where Tony Thomas took a seat previously held by Labour with 44.3% of the vote.

Results breakdown:

Ward	Reform candidate	Position	Vote Share	Winner
Llangennech, Carmarthenshire	Gavin Rashbrook	3rd	24.2%	Plaid Cymru (41.4%)
Dowlais & Pant, Merthyr Tydfil	Terry Donegan	3rd	18.0%	Labour (40.1%)
Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf	Craig Ford	2nd	16.0%	Plaid Cymru (70.8% — landslide)
Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, Denbighshire	Nigel Deed	3rd	7.7%	Independent (46.2%)
Rhyl South, Denbighshire	Tony Thomas	1st	44.3%	Reform UK GAIN from Labour

Martin Shipton attributes the losses to recent national polling dips, "concerns about extremist statements made by many of its politicians, chaos at councils in England that the party controls and continuing revelations about the £5m donation made to Nigel Farage by billionaire crypto currency businessman Christopher Harborne."

The results suggest Reform's support may be plateauing — the by-elections were the first electoral test since the party secured 34 Senedd seats on 7 May.

https://nation.cymru/news/humiliating-defeats-for-reform-uk-in-welsh-council-by-elections/

2. Questions Raised Over Reform Candidate's Addresses — Holiday Let Controversy

Source: Nation.Cymru (9 Jun 2026) Headline: "Questions raised over Reform candidate's addresses as only local property is a holiday let"

Reform candidate Tony Thomas (also the Rhyl South by-election winner above) was accused of misleading voters after listing multiple addresses outside the constituency on election paperwork — including one registered as a holiday let on Sykes Holiday Cottages that was available to book on polling day itself.

Election leaflets claim Thomas has "lived in Rhyl for 25 years"
His Statement of Persons Nominated lists a Conwy address; his Appointment of Agents lists a Rhyl address that is a holiday apartment
He previously contested four elections as a Welsh Conservative candidate
Welsh Labour spokesperson: "Reform UK have questions to answer yet again following concerns that one of their candidates is misrepresenting themselves to voters. There's a pattern here."
Thomas did not respond to Nation.Cymru's questions

Thomas previously stood as a Welsh Conservative in the 2021 Senedd election and the Denbighshire County Council elections before defecting to Reform by 2025.

https://nation.cymru/news/questions-raised-over-reform-candidates-addresses-as-only-local-property-is-a-holiday-let/

3. Reform Wales Faces Data Breach Questions After Tory Members Receive Party Emails

Source: Nation.Cymru (16 Jun 2026) Headline: "Reform Wales faces data breach questions after Tory members receive party emails"

Serious data protection concerns have been raised after Welsh Conservative Party members began receiving press releases from Reform UK's Senedd group — raising the possibility of a GDPR breach involving the transfer of personal data between parties.

Key details:

Multiple Conservative Party members and journalists previously excluded from Reform's media lists received emails carrying Reform's logo and branding
The emails were signed off by a Reform staffer who previously worked for the Welsh Conservatives in Cardiff Bay
Several former Welsh Conservative staff have joined Reform's Senedd operation since the May election
One recipient was a former media volunteer who never provided their contact details to Reform
Reform's data protection department refused to handle the issue, saying it was "not appropriate"
Reform's media teams in Wales and Westminster did not respond to questions about whether ex-Tory staff were instructed to obtain or use Tory data

The story follows a pattern of former Welsh Conservative staffers and candidates migrating to Reform — including Zak Weaver, Tomos Llewelyn, and Craig Ford.

https://nation.cymru/news/reform-wales-faces-data-breach-questions-after-tory-members-receive-party-emails/

4. Ex-Tory Staffer Becomes Reform Candidate Days After Quitting Job

Source: Nation.Cymru (4 Jun 2026) Headline: "Ex-Tory staffer becomes Reform candidate days after quitting job"

Craig Ford resigned from his position as senior communications officer in the Welsh Conservative Senedd group at around 5pm on 28 May. By 2 June, he was issuing press releases on behalf of Reform UK's Senedd group. Just five days later, he appeared on the ballot as Reform's candidate for the Treorchy by-election.

Further controversy:

Ford's candidacy was endorsed by far-right extremist group Voice of Wales, which posted an appeal to Facebook urging voters to back him
He joins a pattern of former Welsh Conservative communications staff (Zak Weaver, Tomos Llewelyn) defecting to Reform
Nation.Cymru asked Ford if former colleagues encouraged him to quit and if he was pleased with Voice of Wales's support — he did not respond
Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson: "This appears to be less a candidate selection process and more a political transfer window… Reform is little more than a retirement home for washed-up Conservatives."
Ford came a distant second with 16% in the Treorchy by-election (see point 1)

The rapid candidate selection has raised fresh questions about Reform's vetting process, which the party has previously described as "brutal" and "intrusive" — despite a series of candidate controversies including Corey Edwards (Nazi salute) and numerous others.

https://nation.cymru/news/ex-tory-staffer-becomes-reform-candidate-days-after-quitting-job/

5. Leanne Wood Accuses Llywydd of Letting Reform 'Incite Racism' Unchallenged

Source: Nation.Cymru (19 Jun 2026) Headline: "Former Plaid leader accuses Llywydd of letting Reform 'incite racism' unchallenged"

Former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood criticised the newly elected Llywydd (Presiding Officer) Huw Irranca-Davies, arguing she was expelled from the Chamber in 2004 for calling the Queen "Mrs Windsor" — yet Reform MSs can now "make stuff up and incite racism" with not even a censure.

The row follows Joe Martin MS's repeated controversial contributions (see below), including:

Claiming Ukrainian refugees haven't "beheaded people in the streets" but Sudanese asylum seekers have
Joking about illiterate students during a debate on international spending
Alleging Welsh nurses' jobs are being given to Indian workers — triggering a walkout by Plaid, Labour and Green MSs

The Welsh Government sent a formal letter to the Llywydd asking for an urgent ruling on whether Martin had breached the Senedd's conduct rules. The Llywydd issued a warning to all MSs to "avoid using language that has the potential to inflame debate" but declined to take further action.

Martin published a defiant statement: "Consensus politicians and media would try to silence and discredit me for standing up for what I believe, and it hasn't deterred me one bit."

Wood shared a link to a BBC Wales article from 2004 about her expulsion, saying: "I was expelled from the Senedd for calling the monarch by her name… Now, it seems you can make stuff up and incite racism in the Siambr with not even a censure."

https://nation.cymru/news/former-plaid-leader-accuses-llywydd-of-letting-reform-incite-racism-unchallenged/

🟡 Ongoing Controversies

Dan Thomas — Still Appointed, Not Elected, & Westminster Exit Rumours Persist

Dan Thomas was appointed Reform's Wales leader by Nigel Farage — no internal election was held
Bluesky reaction continues: @gerryhassan (22 Jun, 467 likes, 136 reposts): "Strange that Reform ex-Tory Suella Braverman chooses to ignore that Nigel Farage never bothered with the inconvenience of a leadership election when he became leader of Reform. Or when Malcolm Offord was imposed as leader of Reform Scotland & Dan Thomas in Wales by Farage."
Rumours Thomas is eyeing a Westminster seat remain unconfirmed but persistent (source: The New World, 1 Jul)
He continues to make headlines for controversial stances: calling for the Ukraine flag to be removed from the Senedd, backing the scrapping of the Nation of Sanctuary programme, and agreeing to be interviewed by a far-right activist after a Merthyr Tydfil rally

Joe Martin MS — Racism Accusations & Committee Appointment

Status: Llywydd issued a warning; formal complaint from Welsh Government unresolved

Joe Martin (Caerdydd Penarth) remains at the centre of the Senedd's most serious conduct row:

16 Jun: Made "vile" remarks about Sudanese asylum seekers during FMQs — Labour MS Shav Taj became visibly emotional
17 Jun: MSs walked out during his speech on international spending; joked about illiterate students and claimed Welsh nurses' jobs going to India
Appointed to the Equality, Human Rights and Social Justice Committee — the very committee scrutinising the Nation of Sanctuary policy he wants scrapped
First Minister responded: "The ugly language of 'them' / 'us' peddled in the Senedd by Reform UK has no place in Wales" (530 likes, 91 retweets)

Laura Anne Jones — Racial Slur Suspension (Pending)

Status: Facing 14-day suspension without pay for using racial slur about Chinese people in a 2023 WhatsApp conversation while still a Conservative MS. Jones maintains "I am not a racist." Suspension period has not yet been served.

Nathan Gill — Russian Asset (Historical)

Former Reform Wales leader Nathan Gill is serving 10½ years for taking bribes to make pro-Russia speeches. Frequently cited by opponents as evidence of Reform's Russia links.

Ukraine Flag Controversy

Dan Thomas and Cai Parry-Jones called for the Ukrainian flag to be removed from outside the Senedd, calling it "virtue signalling". The Senedd confirmed no plans to change arrangements. Zelensky himself has since urged Reform-run councils in England to reverse similar decisions, saying "little, small mistakes can break big friendship." (Nation.Cymru, 8 Jun 2026)

https://nation.cymru/news/zelensky-urges-reform-councils-to-rethink-ukrainian-flag-removals-after-senedd-rejected-similar-calls/

🔗 Bluesky / X Discourse (6 Jul 2026)

Bluesky highlights:

@gerryhassan (22 Jun): "Strange that Reform ex-Tory Suella Braverman chooses to ignore that Nigel Farage never bothered with the inconvenience of a leadership election when he became leader of Reform. Or when Malcolm Offord was imposed as leader of Reform Scotland & Dan Thomas in Wales by Farage." (467 likes, 136 reposts)
@NationCymru (5 May): "Reform UK Wales leader Dan Thomas agreed to be interviewed by one of Wales' most notorious far-right activists following a rally this week in Merthyr Tydfil addressed by Nigel Farage ✍️ Martin Shipton" (8 likes, 6 reposts)
@cwiar.org (12 Jun): "We are aware that Reform UK Wales has tabled a Senedd motion to formally agree with the EHRC Guidance… This uses horrible language which has no place in Welsh democracy."
@MichaelPowell (28 May): "Make sure you send an invitation to Dan Thomas erstwhile leader of Reform UK Wales and local resident of Bath…" — raising the recurring question of Thomas's Welsh residency
@DailyHerald (1 May): "Reform UK Wales leader Dan Thomas has received a social media trouncing after trying to make political capital out of knife attacks on two Jewish men in London."
@UnionJane (25 May): "Reform UK's Dan Thomas wants to get rid of the Ukraine flag from the Senedd Cymru building. The far right hate our Nation of Sanctuary status…"
@TandBNewsForUK (11 Feb, Welsh-language post): "Dywedodd arweinydd Reform Cymru… wrth The Phone In ar BBC Radio Wales fod y bygythiadau'n cynnwys un i losgi ei gartref gyda'i deulu y tu mewn." — Thomas's family received death threats including a threat to burn down his home

X / Nitter highlights:

@PoliticalWales discourse: Rhun ap Iorwerth's line on "the ugly language of 'them' / 'us'" has become the defining rebuttal, shared and quoted widely
"The botched past of Reform UK's Leader in Wales: Dan Thomas" — article being circulated on X

📊 Quick Stats

Metric	Figure
Reform Senedd seats	34 / 96
Vote share (2026)	29% (up from 1% in 2021)
Official status	Leader of the Opposition
Committees chaired	5 / 13
Party leader in Wales	Dan Thomas (appointed by Farage, not elected)
Chief Whip	Llŷr Powell
Recent by-election record	1 win, 4 losses (Jun 2026)
Support ceiling estimate	~30% (State of Wales analysis, Owen Donovan)

📋 Sources

https://nation.cymru/news/humiliating-defeats-for-reform-uk-in-welsh-council-by-elections/
https://nation.cymru/news/questions-raised-over-reform-candidates-addresses-as-only-local-property-is-a-holiday-let/
https://nation.cymru/news/reform-wales-faces-data-breach-questions-after-tory-members-receive-party-emails/
https://nation.cymru/news/ex-tory-staffer-becomes-reform-candidate-days-after-quitting-job/
https://nation.cymru/news/former-plaid-leader-accuses-llywydd-of-letting-reform-incite-racism-unchallenged/
https://nation.cymru/news/reform-ms-accused-of-making-vile-and-disturbing-remarks-about-asylum-seekers-during-fmqs/
https://nation.cymru/news/senedd-rejects-reform-uk-bid-to-scrap-the-nation-of-sanctuary-programme/
https://nation.cymru/news/zelensky-urges-reform-councils-to-rethink-ukrainian-flag-removals-after-senedd-rejected-similar-calls/
https://nation.cymru/news/reform-mocked-as-third-of-mss-back-attack-on-their-own-manifesto/
https://stateofwales.com/2026/05/senedd-2026-after-action-report-reform-uk/
https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sack-has-reforms-leader-in-wales-had-enough-already/
https://nation.cymru/news/reform-in-chaos-as-infighting-erupts-over-senedd-candidate-selections/
https://nation.cymru/news/senior-reform-figure-accused-of-authoritarianism-amid-internal-row-over-welsh-branch-chairs/
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/28/reform-uk-makes-dramatic-first-impression-in-senedd-opposition-role