After Dan Thomas’ resignation as the Wales Reform leader, Nigel Farage has replaced him with someone he “trusts”, Helen Jenner.

All eyes are on the Reform party after the ‘bump in the road’ that has damaged their reputation as the opposition party in the Senned government.

At the start of 2026 Reform set out to support schools, the NHS, cut taxes and put money into pockets, as well arguing they would put Welsh people first through the removal of the status as a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’. Reform states they want to find a new direction rooted in common sense and respect for the people who keep this country running. Reform’s focus is on scrapping international aid to try and build the backbone of the country through the reinvestment of this money.

This comes after the Labour government arguably removed any kind of optimism from the country by failing to meet the priorities of Wales and the Senedd. As a result, Reform are promising to remove migrant hotels in an attempt to regain trust and to “protect Welsh communities”.

This comes with the new leader of the Reform party, Helen Jenner, who sets out to make Wales “understand what we stand for and don’t turn away from us thinking we’re a party that stands for radical things”.

While in her teen years, Jenner was recognised as a rebel with her pink hair, can she really be reliable to create change as the new leader with her rebellious reputation?

Her previous occupations include being the deputy to Reform UK in April and becoming a member of the Senedd for Bangor Conwy Mon at Welsh Parliament elections in May. Her ambitions weren’t always directed toward politics, her father majorly influenced her career path by explaining the importance of the European Union, which gave her the “sudden thought” to “actually care about politics now”.

Nigel Farage, co-founder of Reform UK, has stated that Jenner is a “determined campaigner” and will do a “very good job”, in order to bring stability to Wales and the political party.

Farage’s optimism seems to be a sense of hope for Reform supporters after the turbulent start to the year with Dan Thomas’ arrest on suspicion of assault. Despite being released without charge, Thomas has stepped down from his position as leader of the Reform Party in the Senedd, allowing for a fresh start for the party.

Reform UK, however, have faced serious backlash from the Welsh public as people doubt them and their stability. Their recent clash with Plaid over the burka ban has caused a lot of opposition from the Muslim community and the Welsh public for what some may call racist behavior.

This links to Reform’s manifesto for a harder line on immigration, including deporting all illegal migrants from the UK. Their ‘Five Year Emergency plan’ will establish a UK Deportation Command to identify and deport those they consider ‘illegal’.

“They argue this ensures the Welsh people are ‘put first’”. The backlashes, after only a month of Jenner being in charge, raise doubts on the hero she will really be for Reform in Wales.