Reform defector says party in Wales ‘falling apart’ and she backs independence

A former Reform UK member has said the party in Wales is “falling apart” and has declared her support for Welsh independence, in a move that underscores the fragmentation within Britain’s right-wing opposition.

The defection

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, who had been a member of Reform UK, said the party in Wales is in a state of breakdown. She also revealed, according to the BBC, that she voted Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum — a notable disclosure given that Reform has built much of its identity around opposition to the European Union and the post-Brexit settlement.

The combination of a defection from a party that prides itself on its euroscepticism, paired with a declaration of support for Welsh independence, makes this more than a routine personnel change. It points to tensions within the wider electoral landscape in Wales, where party loyalties have been reshaped over the past decade by Brexit, devolution, and the growing debate over the future of the union.

The Welsh context

Welsh politics has become increasingly fluid. Plaid Cymru has long championed Welsh independence, and the Welsh Labour government has had to contend with renewed questions about the union’s long-term durability. Into that mix comes a Reform UK member publicly declaring the party in Wales is “falling apart” — a claim that, whether or not it reflects the full reality, will be seized on by opponents of the party.

Reform UK’s footprint in Wales has been smaller than its presence in England, and the challenges of building a cohesive presence in a country with its own political identity and strong regional parties have been evident. A defection of this kind, with the defector openly backing independence, complicates the party’s narrative and may be used by rivals to question its organisational strength.

Cooper-Lesadd’s admission that she voted Remain in 2016 adds an unusual dimension. Reform’s core message has been built around Brexit and the claim that the UK should take a harder line on European relations. A member who backed Remain, and who is now backing Welsh independence, illustrates the cross-pressures that exist within the electorate and within political movements — and it highlights the difficulty any single party has in holding together a coalition with competing views on Europe and the union.

ADVERTISEMENT

Why it matters

Party defections are never just about one individual. They can signal internal disputes, organisational weakness, or a broader shift in how voters are aligning themselves. When a defector makes dramatic claims about a party “falling apart”, it feeds into media narratives and can affect how the party is perceived by donors, activists, and potential candidates.

The Welsh independence angle adds another layer. Support for independence in Wales has historically been lower than in Scotland, but it has not disappeared, and every high-profile statement in favour of it keeps the question in the public conversation. A Reform member joining that chorus — even if only individually — is a reminder that the union’s future is being contested on multiple fronts, not only in Scotland.

For the wider right-of-centre landscape, the defection is a headache. Reform has been trying to position itself as an alternative to the Conservatives. A visible split that produces defectors who then back independence undercuts the idea of a unified opposition and gives the governing party a line of attack.

What happens next

The immediate question is whether this defection is an isolated act or a precursor to more. Parties can lose one member without being in crisis; they are in more trouble when departures begin to cluster or when the reasons given start to sound systemic rather than personal. Observers will be watching for whether Reform Wales responds publicly, whether any other members defect, and whether the remarks prompt a wider debate within the party about its approach in Wales.

For Reform UK as a whole, the challenge will be to contain the story and demonstrate that its organisation in Wales is functioning. For the pro-independence side, the development is a chance to claim another voice — even if one voice does not shift the balance of opinion on its own. And for voters in Wales, it is another data point in a political environment where loyalties are being tested and re-tested.