Reform's Wales leader says he would consider a donation from a criminal for security

Reform's Welsh leader says he would consider a donation from a criminal if it was his "only option" to help pay for security.

Dan Thomas has given his backing to Nigel Farage, who plans to resign to trigger a by-election after a report said the Reform UK leader took assistance from a convicted criminal before the 2024 general election.

Thomas said he did not know the "ins and outs", but told BBC Wales he could see why someone would take a donation to ensure their family's safety.

The Sunday Times reported George Cottrell provided support to Farage, including security and social media staff. Cottrell's lawyers said he disputed the allegations, which they described as "false and misleading".

Reform said no rules had been broken.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said the remarks were an "absolute embarrassment to Welsh politics" and an "insult to the public".

Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts accused Farage of "pandering to his own ego and squandering taxpayers' money in the process".

Asked about the Cottrell report, Thomas said: "I don't know the ins and outs of these donations.

"I do know that Nigel needs 24-hour security. I've been out there on a campaign trail with him. He needs it, it's not cheap."

When he was asked if he would have accepted money from a convicted criminal to help with his security, he said: "Well, if it was the only option for me to have security that I badly needed, I would consider it, yes.

"I've been in a similar position at times during the Welsh campaign where my family were under threat.

"So I can see why somebody would take a donation to make sure that they and their family were safe."

Asked if the story passed the "sniff test", he added: "Yeah, it does. I absolutely support Nigel 100%."

Thomas said Farage was "doing the right thing".

"He's bringing this issue to a head. He's faced an onslaught in the media. It's now affecting his family," he added.

"He's putting his personal reputation, his political integrity, to the people of Clacton, and the people who he represents."

He said the public was "fed up of this continuous onslaught with Nigel".

"They've gone after him with what he said when he was 15, now they are going at him on this."

Later, on Radio Wales Breakfast, Thomas accused the BBC of "publishing misleading headlines" and asking "gotcha questions" about a hypothetical situation.

"There are caveats," he said. "If I was in Nigel's position and I need security and a friend of mine has offered to pay for that - yes, if the friend has got a past, I can understand why he has taken that money.

"Fortunately I'm not in the same position as Nigel, I'm not under the same level of threat as Nigel and I don't have friends who would offer me that kind of money quite frankly. So it's pointless asking me these questions."

Conservative shadow Wales Secretary Mims Davies said it was "just over two years" since Labour's former first minister Vaughan Gething was forced to resign after taking donations from a firm run by a man convicted of environmental offences.

"So it defies belief at a time when Nigel Farage is facing serious questions over his £5 million pound gift from a Thai based crypto billionaire Reform Welsh Leader Dan Thomas MS gives this bizarre answer.

"We all want our politicians and their families to be kept safe and protected but it says everything about Reform's judgement that they would consider accepting money from criminals."

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said: "Dan Thomas's comments are an absolute embarrassment to Welsh politics and a glaring reminder of why Reform cannot be trusted with serious leadership.

"To openly admit that you would consider taking money from a convicted criminal, even under certain circumstances, is an insult to the public and a complete abandonment of basic political integrity."

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, one of Thomas' backbenchers, said it would be "interesting" to see how the by-election played out.

She refused to comment on whether it was a gimmick, but said: "Some people may think that. Some people might not".

The Reform MS said: "It's Nigel Farage versus Count Binface. Constitutionally this is quite a remarkable constitutional thing to have happened, if you look at it from that point of view.

"I think political observers around the country will be revelling in the chance to see how the by-election plays out."

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson accused Dan Thomas of being "out of touch" and "happy to defend his party leader's failings - proving he is just another one of Farage's yes men".

Labour said Dan Thomas was being "trotted out to deflect the blame" from Farage.

Saville Roberts said: "By calling for a by-election, Reform UK's leader is only pandering to his own ego and squandering taxpayers' money in the process.

"Peel away the rhetoric, and today's [Tuesday's] attention-seeking exercise is little more than a last-ditch attempt at gaming the system in order to scuttle away from the cold light of impartial scrutiny."