𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Press Association reported Mr Thomas was arrested on suspicion of controlling or coercive behaviour.

Mr Thomas said in a statement: “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 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. I will continue to serve my constituents in Casnewydd Islwyn and will fully back whoever the group selects as its next leader.”

Gwent Police said in a statement: “On Sunday 13 September 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.”

Reform won 34 seats to become the biggest opposition party in May’s historic election which saw Labour lose power for the first time since the launch of Welsh devolution in 1999.

Mr Thomas, who took the helm of Reform in Wales in February, led Barnet London Borough Council from 2019 to 2022 as a Conservative councillor.

His resignation comes on the same day that Senedd member Sarah Cooper-Lesadd has defected from Reform to pro-independence Plaid Cymru. The former Conservative parliamentary candidate claimed the “party centrally has no interest in Wales”.

A Reform Wales spokesperson: “As soon as we discovered Sarah Cooper-Lesadd is in favour of Welsh independence and the break-up of the United Kingdom, we planned to expel her from Reform UK.

“Her separatist sympathies are not welcome in our party. Our policy on maintaining the Union is clear. Plaid are welcome to her, she is now in her third party in two years.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stressed that “people are innocent until proven guilty” but said: “Earlier this year I said Nigel Farage was doing my spring cleaning. He took a large number of very problematic people from the Conservatives. Reform is where they belong.”