The Newshound

'She fibbed and lied': Tice accuses Reform-to-Plaid defector Sarah Cooper-Lesadd of deceiving the party's vetting process

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026 · last updated 20 September 2026.

Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, who defected to Plaid Cymru just four months after winning her Senedd seat for Reform UK, has been accused by Richard Tice of deliberately deceiving the party's vetting process.
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd, who defected to Plaid Cymru just four months after winning her Senedd seat for Reform UK, has been accused by Richard Tice of deliberately deceiving the party's vetting process.

Richard Tice has accused Sarah Cooper-Lesadd of deliberately lying about her political beliefs to secure her Reform UK Senedd candidacy, after she defected to Plaid Cymru just four months after being elected. Cooper-Lesadd, who it emerged had voted Remain in the EU referendum, now backs Welsh independence and open borders — the opposite of Reform's core positions. Plaid Cymru rejected Tice's accusation, insisting she had been honest and that her views had evolved since entering politics.

Cooper-Lesadd says Reform's vetting was 'overwhelmingly focused on media skills', not political beliefs — effectively dismissing Tice's charge that she deceived anyone.

The row caps a disastrous week for Reform in Wales: Welsh leader Dan Thomas resigned after being arrested on suspicion of assault and coercive behaviour.

Voters are reportedly furious they were not consulted, with calls for a by-election so Cooper-Lesadd's Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg constituents can have their say.

MoreWales Online'Voters should have a say' Anger over Reform politician’s Plaid defection - Wales OnlineYahoo News UKEx-Reform politician who defected to Plaid Cymru ‘lied’ about her views, Tice claimspembrokeshire-herald.comTice accuses Reform defector of lying as Plaid rejects claimmsn.com'Voters should have a say' Anger over Reform politician’s Plaid defection
Read today's full feed at The Newshound →