Nigel Farage has announced Reform UK‘s new Welsh leader. Helen Jenner will take on the role following the arrest and resignation of former leader Dan Thomas.
Reform leader Mr Farage said: “Helen Jenner is now the leader of Reform in Wales, and the group leader in the Senedd.
“I’ve known Helen for many, many years. She’s a determined campaigner and I think she will do a very good job.”
Reform made a spectacular breakthrough in Wales in May’s elections, going from having no seats at all in the Senedd to becoming the second largest party.
But the party suffered a setback last when Dan Thomas quit as the party’s Welsh leader, after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
He said: “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.
Nigel Farage Makes Huge Announcement After Massive Reform UK Blow
Nigel Farage has responded to a difficult period for Reform UK with a major announcement that could significantly expand the party’s presence in the British media landscape.
The Reform UK leader is reportedly backing plans for a new media operation known as Reform TV, a project that would initially focus on digital platforms such as YouTube rather than launching as a conventional broadcast television channel.
The announcement comes at a sensitive moment for Farage and his party.
Reform UK has faced intense scrutiny over its finances, internal organisation and political strategy in recent months. The party has also experienced controversy surrounding its senior figures, while its large political donations have become the subject of renewed debate in Westminster.
Against that background, the proposed media venture represents an attempt to establish a communications platform directly associated with Reform rather than relying primarily on existing broadcasters.
A New Media Operation
Reports about Reform TV suggest that the project is still in development rather than being an established television channel.
According to reporting cited in recent coverage, former GB News digital executive Geoff Marsh has been contracted to work on the proposed operation. The plan has reportedly included discussions about an initial team of around 25 staff, with the possibility of recruiting people who already have experience working in political broadcasting.
The initial focus is expected to be online.
That distinction matters because launching a conventional television channel would involve substantially different regulatory and financial requirements.
A digital-first operation would allow Reform to publish programmes, interviews, political commentary and campaign material directly to supporters without depending entirely on established broadcasters to decide which stories receive airtime.
The project has therefore been described as a proposed Reform-linked digital media operation rather than a fully functioning television station.
Why Farage Wants His Own Platform
Farage has spent much of his political career working closely with the media.
His ability to generate headlines and appear regularly on television and radio has been an important part of his public profile. Reform UK has also benefited from significant coverage across Britain’s increasingly fragmented media environment.
A dedicated digital platform would change that relationship.
Instead of waiting for an interview invitation or hoping that a particular Reform announcement receives extensive coverage, the party could publish its own material directly.
That could include speeches, interviews with Reform politicians, discussions about policy, campaign videos and responses to breaking political stories.
The model would resemble the increasingly important role played by online political media in the United States and elsewhere.
Political organisations no longer need to rely exclusively on traditional broadcasters to reach large audiences.
YouTube, social media and podcasts can provide alternative routes to voters and supporters.
For Reform, that possibility is particularly significant because Farage has frequently argued that traditional political and media institutions do not adequately represent the views of his supporters.
A Reform-branded media organisation could allow the party to communicate without the editorial decisions of an independent broadcaster standing between the politician and the audience.
The Timing Is Significant
The proposed announcement comes after a particularly challenging period for Reform UK.
At the party’s September conference, Reform faced scrutiny over allegations arising from an undercover investigation involving political donations. Two senior officials were suspended following the revelations, while Farage insisted that the party had not broken the law.
The controversy created an uncomfortable backdrop for a party that had recently secured substantial financial backing.
The Guardian described the donations controversy as a major blow to Farage as Reform’s conference began, while reporting that the party’s leadership was attempting to steady the organisation.
Reform has rejected accusations of wrongdoing.
The party’s position has been that the donations it received were lawful, while the broader dispute has become part of an increasingly contentious argument over proposed changes to Britain’s political-finance rules.
That controversy has continued to place Farage under pressure.
The proposed media operation therefore arrives at a time when controlling the party’s message may be particularly important to its leadership.
Reform’s Wider Political Challenges
The media announcement also comes against a backdrop of internal difficulties.
In Wales, Dan Thomas stepped down as Reform UK’s Welsh leader following his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. He was subsequently released without charge, and he has maintained his innocence.
Helen Jenner was subsequently announced as the new Reform Wales leader.
Farage described the situation as a setback rather than a crisis, while Jenner took over leadership of the Welsh group at an important moment for the party.
The Welsh controversy was compounded by the departure of Senedd member Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, who moved to Plaid Cymru.
These developments have raised questions about Reform’s internal stability, although the party continues to operate and remains a significant force in Welsh politics following its strong performance in the 2026 Senedd elections.
For Farage, maintaining a clear national message is therefore particularly important.
A dedicated media operation could provide another tool for doing so.
Could Reform TV Challenge GB News?
One of the most interesting aspects of the proposed project is its potential relationship with GB News.
Farage has been closely associated with the broadcaster, and he has appeared regularly on its programmes.
However, reports of Reform TV have raised the possibility that Reform could eventually develop its own media ecosystem rather than depending so heavily on external broadcasters.
The comparison does not necessarily mean Reform TV would directly compete with GB News.
The proposed operation could begin as a relatively small digital service, producing online programmes rather than attempting to replicate a national television network.
But if it expanded successfully, it could potentially become an important source of political news and commentary for Reform supporters.
The digital nature of the project would also allow Reform to experiment.
Rather than following the traditional television schedule, programmes could be published whenever a major political development occurs.
Farage could address supporters directly within minutes of a major announcement.
Party politicians could conduct interviews without a conventional studio.
Supporters could participate through online comments and live broadcasts.
That model could make the organisation much more flexible than a traditional broadcaster.
The Financial Question
There is, however, a practical question surrounding the project: money.
Running a professional media organisation requires journalists, producers, cameras, editors, presenters, technical staff and digital specialists.
Even a relatively small operation can become expensive once regular programming is introduced.
Reform’s substantial recent donations give the party considerably more financial capacity than it previously possessed.
At the same time, proposed changes to political-finance rules could affect how parties receive and use large donations.
The Government has argued that tighter restrictions are necessary to prevent excessive foreign financial influence in British politics.
Farage has strongly criticised those proposals and has argued that restrictions on large donations could disadvantage newer political movements.
That debate gives the proposed media operation an additional political dimension.
If Reform spends significant amounts of its financial resources on media production, questions are likely to arise about whether supporters prefer the money to be spent on campaigning, organisation or communication.
Those are ultimately decisions for the party and its donors.
A New Way of Reaching Voters
The most important consequence of Reform TV may not be whether it becomes a traditional television channel.
Its importance could instead lie in changing how Reform communicates with the public.
Political parties increasingly operate in an environment in which voters receive information from television, newspapers, podcasts, YouTube, TikTok and other social platforms.
Traditional broadcasters remain influential, but they no longer control political communication to the same extent as they once did.
A dedicated Reform media platform would allow Farage and his colleagues to operate within that new environment on their own terms.
It could also help the party respond quickly when opponents criticise its policies or when controversial stories emerge.
Rather than relying on a press statement that journalists may or may not report, Reform could produce its own video response and distribute it directly to followers.
That could become particularly useful during future election campaigns.
Not Yet a Traditional TV Channel
Despite the dramatic language surrounding the announcement, it is important to distinguish between a proposed project and an operational television channel.
Current reporting indicates that Reform TV remains a developing media venture, with YouTube expected to play an important role in its initial phase.
There is therefore no basis for treating it as an already established national broadcaster.
The project could expand significantly if it attracts viewers and financial support.
Alternatively, it could remain a relatively small digital operation.
Its eventual scale will depend on decisions about staffing, funding, programming and audience demand.
What It Means for Farage
For Farage personally, the announcement represents another attempt to strengthen his direct connection with supporters.
His political career has repeatedly demonstrated the importance of communication and media exposure.
Reform TV would potentially give him an additional platform at a time when the party is facing scrutiny from opponents, journalists and regulators.
It would also fit into a broader transformation in political communication.
The old model required politicians to persuade newspapers and broadcasters to carry their message.
The new model increasingly allows politicians to become publishers themselves.
Whether Reform can turn that opportunity into a sustainable media organisation remains to be seen.
But the proposed project demonstrates that Farage is not responding to Reform UK’s recent difficulties simply by changing political personnel or defending the party against criticism.
He is also looking at how the party communicates with the public.
The Next Phase for Reform
Reform UK enters the next stage of its development with both opportunities and challenges.
Its recent electoral advances have given the party a stronger institutional presence, while its large donations have provided resources for campaigning and organisation.
At the same time, controversies surrounding donations, internal disputes and leadership changes have created political and organisational pressure.
Farage’s reported media plans offer one possible response.
A successful Reform TV operation could give the party a direct communications channel and reduce its dependence on traditional broadcasters.
But building an audience is different from launching a platform.
The project will ultimately have to demonstrate that viewers are willing to return regularly, that programming can be sustained and that the organisation can maintain credibility while being closely associated with a political party.
For now, the announcement signals another stage in Farage’s attempt to reshape how Reform UK communicates.
The proposed Reform TV project may begin with YouTube and other digital platforms, but its wider significance lies in the question it raises about the future of political communication in Britain: will parties increasingly build their own media networks rather than relying on traditional broadcasters to tell their story?
Farage appears ready to test that model.
