REFORM UK has welcomed its first three councillors in Wales, marking a significant milestone for the party. The councillors—David Thomas, Jason O’Connell, and Alan Slade—formerly independent representatives for Torfaen County, have decided to align with Reform UK, drawn by the party’s “common sense” approach to politics.
David Thomas and Alan Slade were previously Labour councillors, while Jason O’Connell was a member of the Conservative Party. The trio, who represent the Llantarnam ward, were introduced to the public by Reform’s chief whip, Lee Anderson MP, at the Greenhouse pub in Cwmbran. Anderson, himself a former member of both Labour and the Conservatives, underscored the significance of this development as the party sets its sights on the 2026 Senedd election, which he described as “a massive target.” However, Anderson was also candid in his criticism of the Senedd, labelling it “a waste of time” and asserting that “we are one country.”
The councillors, who will now form a group of three on the Labour-controlled council, have dismissed the idea of calling a by-election, stating that they will continue to represent their constituents without “constraints.” Alan Slade expressed his support for Reform’s goal of “saving on bureaucracy” and called for a reduction in the number of councils in Wales. “We’ve still got 22 councils,” Slade pointed out, adding, “Now they’ve added extra tiers of public service boards, regional partnership boards. It’s a mess, frankly.” David Thomas echoed this sentiment, advocating for more funding to be directed towards “frontline services” rather than administrative roles.
Reflecting on his time as a councillor, Thomas said: “I’ve learned so much more now, being a councillor the past seven years. You adapt, change, and move forward, don’t you?” This evolution in perspective seems to align with Reform’s broader political stance, which has seen it critique both Labour and the Conservatives for their handling of key issues.
Jason O’Connell, when asked about his alignment with Reform, mentioned his support for NHS reform and improving transportation links in Wales. He highlighted his interest in local government reform, a stance that resonates with Reform UK’s calls for a French-style insurance-based health system during their general election campaign. O’Connell stated: “I’d like to see a more effective use of the budget received [by Wales] from Westminster.”
Notably, during the press event, the councillors did not address the topic of immigration, a central issue in Nigel Farage’s campaigns. When questioned, David Thomas said he would need to see statistics before commenting on the impact of immigration in Torfaen. He also addressed the controversy surrounding Farage’s questioning of the police’s handling of the Southport killings, which led to riots in parts of Britain. “Nigel Farage was just asking a question,” Thomas remarked, adding that it was “much worse” when a now-suspended Labour councillor suggested violence against what he called far-right thugs.
Alan Slade emphasised that the councillors are free to guide the party towards a focus on community values. “There are no constraints on us,” he stated. “We can take the party down the route of community focus and community values. [Immigration] is for the main party to deal with.” The councillors also expressed that their move to Reform UK would allow them to “gain access to greater resources” to better advocate for vulnerable communities.
This development follows the performance of Ian Michael Williams, Reform’s general election candidate for Torfaen, who secured second place, trailing Labour’s Nick Thomas-Symonds by 7,322 votes. Although Reform did not win any Welsh seats in the general election, it garnered 16.9% of the vote share, placing it third and just 1.3% behind the Conservatives.
Lee Anderson, MP for Ashfield, praised the councillors’ “bold” decision and highlighted the 2026 Senedd election as a crucial goal for the party. While he refrained from specifying the number of seats Reform aims to win, Anderson commented: “There is a feeling people have had enough of the two mainstream parties. They want a party that actually listens to them rather than just ignores them.”
However, Anderson’s support for the existence of the Senedd appears lukewarm at best. “I think we are one country and that extra layer, it does slow things down,” he said, criticising the performance of the Welsh health service under Labour. When asked if a Welsh Government led by Reform would dismantle the Senedd, Anderson responded: “I don’t know, you’d have to ask the membership… They will develop policy and decide what we’re going to do, not people like me.” Nevertheless, he did reveal his personal stance: “I’d get rid of all devolved governments tomorrow. All of them. I think they’re a waste of time. They’re damaging the countries.”
