Helen Jenner

Helen Jenner
MS
Official portrait, 2026
Leader of the Opposition in Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 September 2026
First MinisterRhun ap Iorwerth
DeputyLaura Anne Jones
Preceded byDan Thomas
Leader of Reform UK Wales
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 September 2026
DeputyLaura Anne Jones
UK party leaderNigel Farage
Preceded byDan Thomas
Party and shadow offices
Deputy Leader of Reform UK Wales
In office
1 April 2026 – 21 September 2026
LeaderDan Thomas
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byLaura Anne Jones
Shadow Cabinet Minister for the Welsh Language
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 May 2026
LeaderDan Thomas
Herself
Preceded bySamuel Kurtz
Shadow Cabinet Minister for Education
In office
19 May 2026 – 23 September 2026
LeaderDan Thomas
Preceded byNatasha Asghar
Succeeded byStephen Senior
Member of the Senedd
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 May 2026
ConstituencyBangor Conwy Môn
Personal details
BornSeptember 1988 (age 38)
Neath, Wales
PartyReform UK (2019–present)
Other political
affiliations
UK Independence Party (before 2019)
Children2
EducationBangor University (BA)

Helen Jenner (born 1988) is a Welsh politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition in Wales and Leader of Reform UK Wales since September 2026. She has served as Member of the Senedd (MS) for Bangor Conwy Môn since May 2026. She was Deputy Leader of Reform UK Wales from April to September 2026, and also serves as Shadow Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language.

Early life and career

Jenner was born in Neath and grew up in Bodorgan, Anglesey. She attended Ysgol David Hughes, and later studied English literature at Bangor University. She was a member of the punk band in 2006, named The Mephs, which is short for Mephistophelean Engines of Pleasure. Jenner began working as a teacher at the BRIT School in London, before returning to Wales in March 2019.

Political career

In the 2019 general election, Jenner stood as the Brexit Party (later renamed Reform UK) candidate for the Ynys Môn constituency, receiving 2,184 votes (6%) and coming fourth.

On 1 April 2026, she was announced as Deputy Leader of Reform UK Wales to leader Dan Thomas.

In the 2026 Senedd election, Jenner was elected as a Member of the Senedd (MS) for the six-member Bangor Conwy Môn constituency, with Reform UK Wales receiving 19,440 votes (28.1%) and winning two seats. She was the party's lead candidate for the constituency, and was elected alongside John Clark.

On 19 May 2026, Jenner was appointed Shadow Cabinet Minister for Education and the Welsh Language in the Thomas shadow cabinet.

On 15 September 2026, Jenner became interim leader of Reform UK Wales, following the resignation of Dan Thomas. On 21 September, she was elected as permanent leader in the subsequent leadership election, receiving 17 votes against 15 for Jason O'Connell.

Personal life

Jenner is a Welsh speaker. She married her husband, Emmett, a fellow active member of Reform UK Wales, in 2016. They have two children, and met through the youth wing of the UK Independence Party.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Acting from 15 September – 21 September 2026.
  2. ↑ Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and the Welsh Language
  3. ↑ as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Children, Young People and Education

References

  1. ↑ Browne, Adrian (22 September 2026). "From punk to politics - the making of new Reform Wales leader Helen Jenner". BBC News.
  2. ↑ https://golwg.360.cymru/cylchgrawn/2199546-athrawes-arwain-reform
  3. ↑ Spridgeon, Dale (2019-12-04). "Chance to get to know the Ynys Môn's parliamentary candidates standing in election". North Wales Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  4. ↑ "Ynys Môn - 2019 General Election". BBC News. 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  5. 1 2 3 Price, Emily (2026-04-01). "Reform Wales appoints deputy leader as Senedd campaign threatens to stall". Nation.Cymru.
  6. 1 2 "Bangor Conwy Môn - Welsh Parliament constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
  7. ↑ Ruth Mosalski (2026-05-19). "Reform UK announce shadow cabinet roles". Wales Online. Retrieved 2026-05-25.
  8. ↑ Deans, David (2026-09-15). "Dan Thomas resigns as Reform Wales leader after arrest on suspicion of assault". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  9. ↑ "Helen Jenner unveiled by Nigel Farage as new leader of Reform in Wales". BBC. 21 September 2026.
  10. ↑ Quinn, Ben (21 September 2026). "Helen Jenner only just won Reform UK's leadership election in Senedd, figures show". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
  11. ↑ Deans, David (2026-08-27). "I was told I should not be at the National Eisteddfod, says Reform MS". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-08-27.
  12. ↑ Wilkinson, Sophie (2026-09-24). "Meet the teenage punk turned teacher who just became Reform's top woman". The i Paper. Retrieved 2026-09-25.