Hello and welcome back to The Valleys Lead.
Reform UK has been plunged into political turmoil in Wales after its leader Dan Thomas stepped down following his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour, while MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd announced she was defecting to Plaid Cymru. The dramatic developments have reignited questions over Reform’s leadership, internal democracy and direction in Wales, even as the party continues to attract new political recruits across the valleys. Off the back of all this news, we are bringing you some exclusive interviews from residents, local government politicians, and Senedd members.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys. Anytime you have something you’d like to share, no matter how big or small, email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com. This week, we are keeping it short as the story below is quite long.):
Changes to recycling in Merthyr Tydfil starts from 5 October. From Monday 5 October 2026, residents will no longer need to separate paper and cardboard before collection. Both materials can simply be placed together in the same recycling box. The change has been made possible because the Council’s recycling reprocessor is now able to accept paper and cardboard mixed together while maintaining high recycling standards. This simple change will help streamline the recycling service while continuing to support the Council's commitment to sustainability and high recycling performance.
People across Blaenau Gwent are being invited to take part in this year’s residents’ survey. The Let’s Talk: Living in Blaenau Gwent residents’ survey runs from Monday 14 September until Sunday 25 October 2026, giving residents a chance to share their views on everything from their local area and council services to community life, wellbeing and local democracy. You can take part by visiting Get Involved Blaenau Gwent, the council’s consultation and engagement platform. The survey is part of the National Residents’ Survey organised by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and is being run by many local authorities across Wales. To ensure everyone can take part, paper copies and easy read versions of the survey will also be available from the council’s Community Hubs in libraries in Abertillery; Blaina; Cwm; Ebbw Vale; Brynmawr and Tredegar and also Llanhilleth Miners’ Institute. You can also pick up a survey from the General Offices, Ebbw Vale.
The most generous home-to-school transport policy in Wales will continue to be in Blaenau Gwent up until at least the summer of 2028. In Blaenau Gwent, primary school pupils can receive free home-to-school transport from 1.5 miles away, and two miles away for secondary pupils.
Reform Wales rocked by dramatic Tuesday as leader quits and MS defects
Who knew a Tuesday could bring so much political drama in the south Wales valleys?
Buckle up, because you’re in for a ride.
Reform UK’s leader in Wales and MS for Casnewydd Islwyn, Dan Thomas, quit on Tuesday (15 September) after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
There had already been considerable discussion over whether Thomas should be representing the south Wales valleys, or even Wales, after previously living and working in London.
Thomas left Wales at a young age, saying there wasn’t enough opportunity here, but returned to Welsh politics after securing the role in February with the support of Nigel Farage. At the time, he claimed his roots were in Blackwood.
Thomas did not take part in First Minister’s Questions earlier on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by the party, Thomas said:
“It has been the honour of my life to have been the leader of Reform Wales and see this party go from zero to 34 elected members and become the largest opposition group in Welsh history. With deep regret, I am now standing down from this position due to personal reasons. Over the weekend, I was reported to the police and was released without charge. I will continue to serve my constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and will fully back whoever the group selects as its next leader.”
One Merthyr Tydfil resident, Jayne, who has asked for us not to use her surname, told The Valleys Lead the case of Dan Thomas’s alleged abuse begs the question of “whether violence against women and girls is being given the political priority, scrutiny and visibility that its seriousness demands.”
“I think the fact that the allegation includes coercive and controlling behaviour is significant,” she said. “It is a specific criminal offence involving a pattern of behaviour, and it shouldn’t be casually dismissed or reduced to a headline about an arrest.”
Although Jayne is conscious that an arrest is not a conviction, and that evidence will determine what is next, “the seriousness of the allegation itself deserves to be recognised.”
“For me, that is also why this brings the wider political issue into sharp focus,” she said. VAWDASV can not only become a political priority when a high-profile case makes the news. It needs continuous attention, scrutiny and leadership, whoever is in government, and whatever political party is involved.”
There’s more, though.
Second up: Sarah Cooper-Lesadd defects to Plaid Cymru
Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd has defected from Reform UK and joined Plaid Cymru.
The decision was announced only moments after the announcement regarding Thomas.
Cooper-Lesadd was born in Newport but was adopted out of Wales at the age of seven.
In her statement, she said Reform was “not serious about governing Wales” and criticised the party for its “attacks on people seeking sanctuary or other vulnerable groups.”
“I particularly reject the way minorities have too often been used as political targets,” she said. “I do not believe anyone should be scapegoated or dehumanised to win votes, and I will not be part of a politics that does that.”
Cooper-Lesadd grew up in the care system and stood for the Senedd to be a voice for care-experienced people. She now says Reform has “no interest” in the work she came to do.
“They are far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions,” she said. “There is a real appetite in the group to want the government to fail, and no interest in what that failure would mean for the people we represent.”
More of her damning statement can be found here.
Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr MS Sara Crowley responded to Cooper-Lesadd’s defection and told The Valleys Lead: “Sarah Cooper-Lesadd has been honest about her political journey and has acknowledged that she was wrong to believe Reform was the right political home for her.
“As Sarah Cooper-Lesadd has made clear, she wants to be part of a party that is serious about governing, serious about delivering for communities, and serious about Wales. More and more people are recognising that Plaid Cymru is that party.
“I recognise the courage it has taken to make this decision, and I am looking forward to working with Sarah as a Plaid Cymru colleague.”
Local government: ‘You reap what you sow’
At a local government level, Merthyr Tydfil Councillor Andrew Barry, who joined Reform in October 2024 but left the party in April 2026, told The Valleys Lead that the “commonality” between the announcements is that “none of these people were democratically elected by the Party.”
“All were imposed from London,” he said. “I guess you reap what you sow.”
Barry decided to join Reform because he “identified with their centre-right ethos and their economic approach”, which he felt Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives severely lacked.
“Having been involved in Merthyr Tydfil politics for over 20 years, I saw the socio-economic fabric of the Valleys being eroded and wanted to offer a common-sense alternative,” he told The Valleys Lead.
He said his reasons for joining were “strictly policy and vision driven”.
Initially, he did not have extensive recruitment meetings. His contact was mainly through emails between September 2024 and early 2025.
“Based on my political and business CV, I was invited to speak in Port Talbot alongside Nigel Farage,” he said.
While a member of the party, Barry said support from Reform or mentors within the party was “non-existent” and that he was not provided with any monetary compensation.
His decision to leave the party and return to his Independent Party in Merthyr Tydfil came after “months of poor communication and a total lack of internal democracy”.
“But the final straw was discovering that candidate selections—including for Member of the Senedd—were decided behind closed doors by Thomas and party figures in London without any membership vote,” Barry said.
“Having Jason O’Connell parachuted into Pontypridd, Cynon and Merthyr bypassed the local membership who had worked for 18 months on the ground. My front-running colleague and I withdrew in April 2026 before official phone calls were made.
“A party that bypasses democratic processes internally cannot credibly preach democracy to the public.”
Barry said he finds the current state of politics “highly disillusioning, with democracy often feeling more like an illusion”.
But Reform is still recruiting
While several politicians may be leaving Reform, there is a potential candidate in Ebbw Vale who has recently joined the party.
Jordan Brace stood as an Independent candidate for Blaenau Gwent, Caerffili & Rhymni in the May elections. He received 931 votes, something he said at the time he felt incredibly proud of, although he was not elected.
In August, he announced that he would be joining “Team Reform”.
“I wanted to make this decision openly and honestly before the next election,” he said on Facebook. “Residents deserve to know exactly where I stand so they can judge me fairly as a candidate.
“More than 100 people have encouraged this move, supported the idea or told me they want a fresh political voice for our area. I have spoken with people from other political parties, but I believe Reform best represents the common-sense politics, practical solutions and modern local change our communities need.”
When The Valleys Lead asked Brace why he had defected to Reform, he said there were a few reasons.
First, “it’s hard to beat a massive party,” he said.
Next, he said he felt Reform was “speaking common sense”.
“I started studying Reform and listening to Nigel Farage, Dan Thomas and Catherine Cullen,” he said.
“The biggest thing I really liked was how they asked why hardworking local people like us are worse off when immigrants from abroad come here to claim benefits and take advantage of the system. A lot of people are coming here because we offer too much good stuff.”
He said pensioners are scared to leave their homes as a result of what they are seeing about “immigrants” on TV.
He also mentioned that “the roads have never been better than when under a Reform Council”, and said he appreciated that Reform prioritises getting “youngsters” and “young women” into politics.
Brace said he is looking forward to improving himself with Reform and hopes to be chosen as a candidate for the party.
“I just want to make a difference, I do,” he concluded.