Reform's Wales leader dismisses reports he is living in England

THE newly-installed leader of Reform UK in Wales has branded claims he is living in England as “absolute nonsense”, labelling them “smear attempts” by the “Welsh establishment”.

- By PHILIP DEWEY

Dan Thomas also announced the constituency he hoped to be standing in and spoke about his reasons for returning to Wales from London.

Mr Thomas was announced as the new Reform leader in Wales by party leader Nigel Farage at a rally at the International Convention Centre in Newport last Thursday.

The former Tory leader of Barnet council in London was selected to lead Reform in the Senedd should he gain a seat at the upcoming elections in May.

Appearing on the BBC's Politics Wales yesterday, Mr Thomas, originally from Blackwood, denied claims he lives in Bath following an article which confirmed he has recently bought a house in the Somerset town.

Addressing the claims, he said: "I am living and have been living in Wales.

"Already, it’s quite telling, the smear attempts have started from the Welsh establishment and their supporters.

"I have a property portfolio, I'm not going to talk about locations of properties, but that has been weaponised against me to try and make out I'm not living in Wales and I've been parachuted in.

"It's absolute nonsense. I live in Wales, I'm eligible to stand in the Senedd, I will be standing. This is just a smear attempt by my political opponents.”

Mr Thomas said he hoped to be standing in Newport and Islwyn, a proposed six-member Senedd constituency known by the Welsh name Casnewydd Islwyn, but Reform candidate lists have not yet been finalised.

The politician was asked about his reasons for returning to Wales after living for decades in London.