Nigel Farage has turned to former English teacher Helen Jenner to restore order in Reform’s Welsh ranks. Jenner was today crowned the party’s new leader in Wales and, with it, leader of the opposition in the Senedd.

Born near Neath in South Wales, the married mother of two is a veteran of the populist right, having previously stood for the Brexit Party and been a member of UKIP. She even met her husband through a Young Independents Facebook group. Reform will elect its Welsh deputy leader tomorrow, with a full shadow cabinet due to be unveiled by the end of the week.

Jenner’s promotion from Deputy Leader follows the resignation of her predecessor Dan Thomas after his arrest on suspicion of assault. Thomas was bailed by police and denies any wrongdoing.

Announcing Jenner’s appointment this afternoon, Farage said: ‘I am sorry for Dan’s personal difficulties he’s going through. I’m quite sure he will come out of it before too long but it was pretty untenable for him to remain leader while these domestic disputes were going on.

‘I’ve known Helen for many, many years. She’s a determined campaigner, someone that I trust and I think is going to do a very very good job. We will carry on as if nothing had happened, waiting for Dan who is going to stay a member of this place, to come back more actively with us.’

For her part, Jenner was keen to get her new political classroom under control. She said: ‘I am intending to build on the great work that we’ve already been doing here and holding Plaid Cymru to account, holding this government to account. We will continue to build on our successes and work towards becoming the government in 2030.’ Quite the ambitious lesson plan.

BREAKING: Reform UK has named Helen Jenner as its new leader in Wales following the arrest and resignation of her predecessor. pic.twitter.com/rSj8DEIx0L

— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 21, 2026