Reform UK unveils Dan Thomas as Welsh leader

Thomas giving a masonic handshake to Farage I see.

Smart move, a nonentity keeping the seat warm for RT.

Sounds like a true (really?) Welsh man is running the Deform ship. Hopefully it gets bogged down in the marsh fields.

Echoes of that other creep George Thomas- "I was born in the Rhondda Valleys.......so I have every right to abuse them!"

Of course. Dan Thomas, who served as the Leader of Barnet Council from 2017 to 2022, is a figure associated with a particularly controversial and impactful policy. The most notable and interesting thing about his tenure is his role as the chief architect and advocate for Barnet's "Commissioning Council" model, often dubbed "The Barnet EasyCouncil" or "The John Lewis Model." Here’s a breakdown of what makes this so significant: 1. The "EasyCouncil" Model The concept, officially known as the "Commissioning Model," was pioneered under the previous leader, Mike Freer, but Dan Thomas was its most prominent defender and implementer during a critical phase. The model was inspired by commercial franchises and the John Lewis Partnership (hence the nickname). The core idea was: · The council would commission (buy) services rather than directly provide them. · It would retain a very small core of staff to set strategy and manage contracts. · Almost all services would be outsourced to private companies or set up as mutuals/arm's-length organisations. Under Thomas's leadership, this reached its apex with the £1 billion+ "Strategic Partnership" with Capita, outsourcing the bulk of the council's functions (from finance and IT to environmental services and planning) in two massive contracts. 2. The Controversy and "Capita Crisis" This is where Dan Thomas's legacy becomes particularly contentious. The outsourcing model, especially the Capita contracts, became synonymous with high-profile failures: · Massive Data Breaches: Multiple serious data breaches occurred, including one exposing the personal details of thousands of residents. · Critical Service Failures: There were systemic problems in planning, licensing, and housing benefits. Barnet's planning department became one of the slowest in the country. · Financial Scrutiny: The contracts were criticised for lack of transparency and control. A £2 million fraud by a Capita employee in the pensions service was a major scandal. · Public Backlash: The model was widely seen as putting ideology and cost-cutting ahead of service quality and resident welfare. The slogan "Barnet - the Council that Works for You" was often mocked by residents experiencing the opposite. 3. The Political Fallout The controversy directly shaped the political landscape: · Electoral Defeat: The failings of the Commissioning Model were a central issue in the 2022 local elections. The Conservative group, led by Thomas, suffered a devastating loss, losing 13 seats and control of the council to the Labour Party for the first time in Barnet's history. This was seen as a direct referendum on his policy. · Policy Reversal: The new Labour administration, under Leader Barry Rawlings, immediately began the complex and costly process of "insourcing" – bringing many of the Capita-run services back under direct council control. This was a dramatic repudiation of Thomas's flagship policy. 4. Personal Political Style and Aftermath · Dan Thomas was seen as a staunch, ideological defender of the model, often dismissing criticism and attributing problems to teething issues rather than fundamental flaws. This made him a lightning rod for opposition. · Following the 2022 election loss, he stepped down as Conservative group leader and largely retreated from frontline politics. · His tenure is now studied as a cautionary tale in local government about the risks of extreme outsourcing, the loss of institutional capacity, and the difficulty of managing large, complex contracts for public services. In summary, the most interesting aspect of Dan Thomas is that he became the personification of Britain's most ambitious and, ultimately, most troubled experiment in wholesale council outsourcing. His leadership offers a stark case study in the collision of free-market ideology with the practical, day-to-day realities of delivering public services.

Given that Mark Reckless was a frontrunner for the leadership I suppose we should be thankful that at least Dan Thomas is Welsh

So that's alright then. He has a Welsh "grandad" who was a coalminer and grew up in "the welsh valleys". Sounds like a Holywood remake of How green was my valley, look you isn't it. And after being a Tory and running a London council he has ALL the knowledge and experience needed to rule us. Well, I've got something to tell you, Mr Thomas, we had another Mr Thomas just as anti-welsh in Lord Tonypandy, and he was just as bad as you promise to be. Well over half the population in Wales back 20mph, for example, so you have proved on day one that you won't listen to Welsh people by sayong you will abolish it.

It's long been the fault of all conservative parties that they failed to capitalise on this natural conservatism by prioritising an abolish Wales narrative. Reform are just the same on steroids.

Another Dic Sion Dafydd

I would have to disagree with you on that one. For example, according to the last census Wales is far more irreligious than England - doesn't sound very small c conservative to me. So really I think this is just wishful thinking on your part.

Looks more like a John Thomas to me

Who?

What a bad appointment. A posh English plastic taff will go down like a lead balloon in the Valleys. Happy days!

Wales hating racist scum. There's no place for them, their policies or their supporters in Wales. For a group of people that constantly bang on about "respecting their country" they seem more than happy to inflict their vile way on us and ruin our country. Disgusting on all kinds of levels, and it's getting quite obvious why reform supporters are starting to get labeled on the estates.

Farage had to scrape the barrel on that one. Thomas will be fully controlled by Farage who always has England’s er I mean Wales’ best interests at heart

Amazing. Wonder how many acres of beautiful Welsh countryside he owns.

Completely agree. Wales has been crying out for a pro devolution, pro language right of centre party for decades.

In December, when he resigned as a councillor from the London Borough of Barnet, he told them that this was so he could spend more time with his family due to the recent birth of his son. Why does he think the role as a Senedd member will be less arduous on his time than that of a borough councillor?

Not exactly a warm welcome from the other party leaders but when Mr Thomas has spent his adult life in London, not lived in Wales during devolution and his first political statements in his new role are all about non-devolved issues, you can see the direction of travel. He appears to be somebody that Farage can trust in Wales which is not exactly a pat on the back for any of his candidates here (when he gets around to picking them). He also has a record of outsourcing all services which in Barnett Councill as their leader, did not go well. He moved out of London because as a Tory, his Council group was booted out of control; there was no hiraeth involved here. So I assume we can expect a massive outsourcing manifesto from Reform in Wales, at Local & National govt level and then the NHS! Farage has denied wanting to privatise the Welsh NHS yet has put an ideological privatiser in charge of his Welsh region. For all the name-calling that will go on, I would be grateful for ideas and inspiration from all parties wanting to lead Wales after May's elections - preferably with devolved policies Mr Thomas!

Looks like he was promised the gig by Farage in 2024 Nobody in Wales has heard of him London tory Councillor of 19 years. The poor saps at branch .They never stood a chance No votes. Nothing Expect Dan to big up his Welsh Roots. Stories of salad days spent at Trecco as a child. Washing the coal dust off Granddad .

How can anyone with Welsh family mining connections ever support the Tories or a far right reform party? Doesn’t he know his history? Especially the treatment of Welsh Miners from Churchill to Thatcher ? His grandfather will be turning in his grave…

Reform have definitely got our best interests at heart. Said all the multi millionaire City of London bankers.

Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. I shouldn’t care to generalise either way. I’ll see about this man in due course. I’m perfectly happy right now though to criticise his record as a Conservative councillor in Barnet and use it as evidence of what to expect. Plenty of ammunition there

Another twice Tory failure forced on Wales by another eight times Conservative reject, Nigel Farage. Dan Thomas who, he says? And funny how he, Dan Thomas, mentions uncontrollable migration. According to his cult leader immigration wasn't a problem in Wales as it was in England. Well , so he said in June, 2024. And I quote Reform UK: "While immigration is a major concern nationally, it was considered "much more of an issue" in England than in Wales." Only recently the newly announced leader of Reform in Wales was a Conservative councillor in Barnet , whose party was in power for 14 long painful years. It was he and they responsible for our borders in government and failed miserably thanks to Brexit. And after 2016 referendum leading up to when we left the EU in 2020 the small boats issue exploded thanks to him and them. He conveniently omits his part played. Also, talking all things immigration and economic migrants. Isn't Dan Thomas himself effectively one after as an 18 year old settled in England citing lack of opportunity in Wales. Yes he is. What a bloody hypocrite! And the big difference between the vast majority of asylum seekers, unlike Dan Thomas, is that they not only want security and a better life for their families but want contribute positively to Wales and Welsh society rather than deliberately favour destroying our Senedd Cymru democracy, stop the teaching of Welsh and its promotion, who are in favour of repatriating powers back to Westminster without a referendum reinstalling direct rule. This is a warning to those considering voting for a party willing to sell Wales out. It's a straight choice. Friend or foe. Take the hand of those who care rather than embrace your abuser. #Ymlaen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #VotePlaidCymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #May7th 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿#RhunApIorwerth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 #PuttingWales FirstNotLast 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. #ReformUK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧#WelshNot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

LINO - Leader In Name Only. Farage as majority shareholder is really in charge.

He came back to Wales because he lost control of a London Tory Council as Council leader, then joined Reform no doubt believing that there was a job in it; very much like the former Tory MS who jumped today to keep an MS job. I agree that if he lives here, he's Welsh, but he's been away for 27 years, has absolutely no experience of devolution and in 12 weeks wants to run us!

First presser he is asked does he agree with farage vile comments on gassing and Pochin's vile comments on colour. Cos that is the party he is in.

Supporting reform does though.

This man has a lot to do to get him himself known and not a lot of time to do it. However much he throws his face at the media there will always be someone else directing him - Farage. Someone who knows absolutely nothing about Cymru.

I'm not a Reform voter (obviously) - but it looks like this fellow will be the only working class party leader in the senedd election. That doesn't say much - other than about the narrowness of the welsh political class

Still pretending to be Welsh are you?

Yet another tory failure being promoted way beyond his competence level. Make no mistake, he'll never go to his Lord & master to fight on behalf of Cymru, more likely the reverse, to tell US "Nigel says this "& "Nigel said that" & expect the Cymro to hear & obey, a colonial overlord riding in on the back of a shiny landrover wearing a ridiculous uniform no doubt. He'll just be the lickspittle in chief passing on the dik -tats from fascist head office. I'll say this to the people of Cymru, if you've never ever voted tory in your lives before, why would you now vote for this discredited band of tossers & vile outcasts from the tory party that took the whole country to the brink of ruin over fourteen disastrous years???