NIGEL Farage has reportedly sent a message of support to Reform’s Senedd group, despite not commenting publicly on his personally chosen Welsh leader’s resignation this week.

Dan Thomas was unveiled by the Reform UK leader to head the Welsh party last February ahead of the May election that saw them jump from two to 34 seats.

But Thomas resigned the leadership on Tuesday in the wake of being arrested at the weekend on suspicion of assault and coercive or controlling behaviour.

Reform MS Llyr Powell said the Senedd Reform group had Mr Farage’s “full confidence” and he had urged them to “keep going”.

The party chief whip said: “(Mr Farage) sent a good message to us to say about the work we’ve been doing and it’s important that we keep going.

“Nigel is doing what Nigel does and that is lead the party nationally. Us in here, we’re deciding who’s going to be the leader of the Reform group in the Senedd.

“Nigel is just supportive… We’ve got his support in what we make our decision, so we’re quite happy with Nigel’s verdict on that.

“That just shows the growth of the party, he’s got full confidence in us.”

Mr Thomas, who has been bailed pending further inquiries and denies any wrongdoing, was reportedly at a meeting of the Senedd group in Cardiff Bay on Wednesday, when the leadership situation was discussed.

And Mr Powell later said the party had had not considered suspending the Casnewydd Islwyn MS, and said he "had a right" to be at the meeting.

Powell said: "Dan was completely transparent with us after what happened. Right now, Dan Thomas is a member of our group. He had a right to be there today."

"Unlike other people I don't assume guilt until you know an investigation finishes. I think that's completely wrong.

"I think people should give Dan the time and the space there for what he's doing.

"There is an office here for Dan if that is where casework is being held... I think the people of his constituency expect him to be doing the job that he's elected to do.

"So if that's where Dan's got to be that's where Dan's got to be."

Senior sources in the party have told BBC Wales News that Thomas’ deputy and interim leader Helen Jenner, the Bangor Conwy Môn MS, is the favourite to replace him after Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd MS James Evans, who switched from the Conservatives to Reform last February, announced he wouldn’t be standing.

Former Brexit Party General Election candidate Jenner, a Welsh speaker and former English teacher, who was elected to the Senedd in May, has praised Nigel Farage for helping her become engaged in politics.

"It was seeing him, and then watching his YouTube clips in the European Parliament and everything: I've never seen anybody so animated

"I felt he was really principled and I suddenly thought 'oh, I actually care about politics now'."

Last month, the MS also claimed she had been told on social media she had “no right to attend the National Eisteddfod” because of her membership of Reform.

On the BBC Wales podcast Walescast, the Neath-born politician said she was told: "I had no right to be there, and that it was a disgrace that I was there speaking Welsh.

"You know, a lot of, I will be honest, Plaid Cymru. Yes Cymru supporters being very annoyed at the fact that I portray myself as a Welsh person because apparently, you know, you can't be Welsh-speaking in Reform.

"So, I get bits like that, but it doesn't bother me. I just think it's ridiculous."