Reform not suspending former leader arrested on suspicion of assault, says chief whip

A politician who quit as Reform UK's Wales leader after he was arrested for assault over the weekend will continue to represent the party in the Senedd, its chief whip Llŷr Powell has said.

Dan Thomas also attended a meeting on the Senedd estate in person on Wednesday to discuss how the party will replace him.

Powell said Reform had not considered suspending the whip - which would effectively leave him as an independent MS - and said he "had a right" to be at the meeting.

Thomas quit on Tuesday after he was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. He was bailed pending further enquiries, and denies doing anything wrong.

Powell and interim leader Helen Jenner are thought to be among the potential candidates to replace Thomas.

James Evans, Reform MS, ruled himself out on Wednesday despite saying he had support from the majority of the party group.

Party members are not expected to get a vote to decide who should be Wales leader, but Powell said that Reform's 33 Senedd members will have a vote if there is more than one candidate.

Reform Senedd members met in Cardiff Bay to discuss their next steps on Wednesday morning, with a party official from London attending to oversee proceedings.

The news that Dan Thomas had been arrested broke at the same time as Reform MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd separately decided to defect to Plaid Cymru.

Asked if it had been considered whether the whip should be removed from Thomas, Powell said: "No. Dan was completely transparent with us after what happened.

"Right now, Dan Thomas is a member of our group. He had a right to be there today."

Powell said: "Unlike other people I don't assume guilt until you know an investigation finishes. I think that's completely wrong.

"I think people should give Dan the time and the space there for what he's doing.

"There is an office here for Dan if that is where casework is being held... I think the people of his constituency expect him to be doing the job that he's elected to do.

"So if that's where Dan's got to be that's where Dan's got to be."

Powell did not rule out standing, telling journalists he did not want to "lie to the media", but said he had not put papers in to take part in a leadership contest.

The chief whip, who is responsible for group discipline, said he hoped that someone could be found replace Thomas "fairly quickly".

Powell said the party group had Nigel Farage's full confidence and he had sent a message of support.

"Nigel is just supportive... We've got his support in what we make our decision, so we're quite happy with Nigel's verdict on that."

Nominations close on Thursday - if there is more than one candidate it is expected there will be a secret ballot of Members of the Senedd.

Explaining why there would be no vote of the membership to Radio Wales Breakfast, Powell said none of the other group leaders in the Senedd had been elected by their members.

"This process, I'm convinced, will be done by the end of the month so we can once again focus on what is the priority."

He said that "is the people of Wales and holding this government to account because of the scary things they're doing right now".

In a statement to the press on Wednesday, Evans ruled himself out from the contest, calling for the party to unite behind a single candidate.

He had been one of the names thought to be in the running.

"As most of you know I always put my family first," he said.

"After having consulted with my family and my wife... I decided on this occasion I will not be putting my name forward for the leadership and running in the contest that will come.

"I hope that the party can unite behind a single candidate, and we can get on with the job of representing the people here in Wales and opposition and fighting for those communities who feel left behind.

"I had majority of support in the group, but I do not think a competition at this time will be beneficial for anybody," he added.

Cai Parry-Jones and Jason O'Connell are understood to have ruled themselves out.

Gwent Police said on Tuesday that on Sunday a 45-year-old man, from the Aberbargoed area, "was arrested on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour".

"He has been bailed pending further enquiries," the spokesperson added.

In his resignation statement, 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."