Richard Tice accuses Sarah Cooper-Lesadd of 'lying about her beliefs' before switching from Reform UK to Plaid Cymru

Reform UK's deputy leader has accused the party's former Senedd Member Sarah Cooper-Lesadd of lying to them about her political beliefs before she defected to Plaid Cymru.

Richard Tice was speaking after a chaotic week for his party in which its Welsh leader resigned after being arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Helen Jenner, the party's deputy leader in Wales, is favourite to take over next week.

Tice insisted the events had not distracted the party from the issues it was tackling, saying there were good days and bad days in politics.

Plaid Cymru said Cooper-Lesadd had been "honest about her political beliefs" and had acknowledged her views had changed.

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, who was elected to the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg constituency, made the dramatic political move to Plaid Cymru , claiming Reform UK was "far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions".

As well as saying she was now a supporter of Welsh independence, she also revealed she had voted to Remain in the EU referendum a decade ago.

When asked how she had got through the vetting process as a Remain voter, Tice said: "If someone deliberately misleads you, and fibs to you, and lies to you, then it doesn't matter how much vetting you do.

"So, why don't you ask her that question? How can you turn from being a unionist to a separatist?

"How can you turn from being someone who believes in defending our borders to want to open the borders and become a nation of sanctuary? The whole thing's absurd," he told BBC Radio Wales Sunday Supplement.

"I'm not in charge of vetting. Look, we make lots of brilliant, fast-moving decisions and judgements.

"That's why we've grown to be the second-largest party in Wales so quickly from a standing start. We never claim that we're perfect. You know, we're real people."

Tice refused to confirm whether Helen Jenner would take over from Thomas next week other than to say that whoever becomes leader will get the seal of approval from him and the UK leader Nigel Farage.

Thomas, who was released on bail after his arrest, stood down saying he had done nothing wrong but did not want to be a distraction to the party.

He has not been suspended from the party - which would have effectively left him as an independent MS - while Gwent Police continues its investigation.

Senedd member Sarah Cooper-Lesadd quits Reform to join Plaid Cymru

Helen Jenner likely to take over as Reform Wales leader, sources tell BBC

Tice said the events had not distracted Reform Senedd Members from focusing on issues such as the housing of illegal migrants, small boats crossing the English Channel and the 20mph speed limit.

He said: "Life is work in progress. But the bottom line is that we've got a group of 33 elected representatives, and they're the second largest party by a considerable margin, and we're raising issues that are absolutely vital to the residents of Wales.

"Life moves at different paces, and you have sometimes good days, you have sometimes bad days.

"The reality is that very shortly, we'll have a new leader. But our representatives are getting on with the job of representing their constituents and raising issues they want raised."

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "Sarah has been honest about her political journey and has acknowledged that her views have changed since she first entered politics."

You can see more of the interview on Politics Wales on BBC One Wales at 10:00 on Sunday and on BBC iPlayer.

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