What Happened — Full Details
Removal from Post for Non-Attendance
- David Thomas, a Reform UK councillor, has been removed from his seat on Cwmbran Community Council after failing to attend enough meetings over the past six months. This triggered an automatic vacancy under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 — the law that removes a councillor who does not attend any meetings for six consecutive months. (Yahoo News)
- The council clerk certified the seat as vacant after Mr Thomas’s absence, meaning a by-election could now be called to fill the position for the Two Locks ward — potentially the second one in under three years. (Yahoo News)
Who David Thomas Is
- Thomas is leader of the Reform UK Wales group on Torfaen Borough Council and also serves as regional director for Wales for the party — giving his role political significance beyond the community council. (Yahoo News)
- He won the community council seat in a 2023 by-election as an independent, beating Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates with a narrow majority. (Yahoo News)
His Response
- Thomas acknowledges his attendance record was inadequate, but says this is because his time is “increasingly stretched” between his borough council duties, business commitments, community work, and voluntary roles. (Yahoo News)
- He emphasised ongoing work on local issues such as safety, litter, and direct casework, and stated that he will continue serving as a borough councillor and is not standing down. (Yahoo News)
- He also confirmed he won’t stand in the upcoming May Senedd election, stepping back from wider political ambitions. (Yahoo News)
Legal & Governance Context
Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972
- The law states a councillor loses office if they miss meetings for six consecutive months unless a formal reason is accepted before that period ends. This is designed to ensure elected representatives remain active and accountable to their communities. (GOV.UK)
- Other councils have debated similar rules — either applying the automatic removal or, in rare cases, granting dispensations when health or exceptional circumstances are officially approved. (Broxtowe Democracy)
Thus Thomas’s removal followed long-standing statutory standards for attendance.
Case Impact & Local Reaction
Community Council Vacancy
- A casual vacancy notice has been posted for the Two Locks ward. If 10 electors apply by mid-January, a by-election must be held; otherwise the council can co-opt a replacement. This process typically costs several thousand pounds — a point of debate among local residents. (Yahoo News)
Public and Political Commentary
Supportive / Understanding Views
- Some locals emphasise that experienced councillors often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, and that community work outside formal meetings also matters.
Critical Views
- Others say attending meetings is a basic duty of office, and the rule exists to ensure elected representatives are present and accountable. Annual pay linked to council roles makes attendance expectations sharper. (The Independent)
Wider Patterns in Reform UK
- This case sits alongside broader challenges noted in some councils where Reform UK members have struggled with attendance or internal discipline, including at least one councillor accused of near-zero activity since being elected — prompting criticism about effectiveness and taxpayer value. (The Independent)
Why This Matters
| Issue | Significance |
|---|---|
| Local democracy | Highlights statutory attendance requirements and community expectations. |
| Governance standards | Reinforces legal requirement for councillors to participate actively. |
| Political optics | For Reform UK, the episode adds to a string of internal organisational issues. |
Bottom Line
A Reform UK councillor has lost his seat on a community council because he did not attend enough meetings, a statutory rule designed to keep local government effective and accountable. His broader political role continues, but the vacancy now opens the door to a possible by-election and local scrutiny of councillor performance in the area. (Yahoo News)
Here’s a detailed case-study-style look at the Reform UK councillor removed for repeated failure to attend meetings, including the facts, relevant comparisons, and public / political commentary:
Case Study: Cllr David Thomas (Wales) – Removal for Non-Attendance
Background
- Councillor: David Thomas — leader of Reform UK Wales group on Torfaen Borough Council and regional director for Wales for the party. (Nation.Cymru)
- He was also a volunteer member of Cwmbran Community Council representing the Two Locks ward, elected in a by-election in September 2023. (Nation.Cymru)
What Happened
- Thomas was removed from the community council because he failed to attend enough meetings over a six-month period. Under UK law (Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972), a councillor automatically loses their seat if they don’t attend meetings after six straight months. (Nation.Cymru)
- No formal dispensation was recorded to excuse his absence, so the council clerk declared the seat vacant, opening the door for another by-election to fill it. (Nation.Cymru)
Councillor’s Explanation
Thomas acknowledged his poor attendance record, explaining his time was “increasingly stretched” between:
- Borough council duties,
- Casework and community action (such as clearing alleyways, litter picks, supporting vulnerable residents),
- Running a local business and family responsibilities.
He stressed that he remains committed to serving as a borough councillor and will not stand in the forthcoming Senedd election, but did not dispute that he failed to meet attendance obligations. (Nation.Cymru)
Case Study Comparison: Absentee Councillors in Other Areas📍 Northumberland – Shaun Knowles (Different Context)
- Shaun Knowles, another Reform UK councillor, didn’t lose his seat but drew criticism for near-complete inactivity: attending just one meeting and sending only two emails in six months — despite receiving nearly 1,000 emails as an elected official. (The Independent)
- A Conservative colleague called this “completely absent” and accused him of wasting taxpayer money on a salary with almost no constituent engagement. (The Independent)
- Because he did attend one meeting, Knowles narrowly avoided automatic disqualification — highlighting how attendance rules can hinge on a single documented presence. (The Independent)
Wider Legislative Context
The six-month attendance rule is a standard mechanism to ensure councillors are accountable and engaged:
- Under the Local Government Act 1972, councillors who fail to attend any meetings for six consecutive months cease to be members unless dispensation is formally granted before that period lapses. (Erewash Borough Council)
- Some councils occasionally grant dispensations for health or exceptional reasons — but this did not occur in Thomas’s case. (Erewash Borough Council)
Public Reaction & Political Commentary
Supportive Views
Some observers argue:
- Strict attendance enforcement is necessary to maintain local accountability — councillors should be present in formal forums where decisions are made.
- Serving a community requires both formal meeting participation and informal work, and absence undermines confidence.
Critical Views
Others — especially Reform critics or opponents — highlight broader issues:
- Cases like Knowles and Thomas expose a pattern of low engagement from some newly elected Reform councillors, lending fuel to claims that many were poorly prepared for governance responsibilities. (The Independent)
- Online discussions emphasize that winning seats in 2025 gave Reform UK hundreds of councillors, but many lack experience and struggle with procedural duties. (Reddit)
Social Media & Community Commentary
- Reddit threads on similar Reform incidents frequently mock absentee behaviour, suggesting some councillors treat local roles as titles without function, and discussing recall rights or reform in vetting systems. (Reddit)
Implications for Local Democracy
This episode touches on wider issues in UK local government:
| Issue | Implication |
|---|---|
| Accountability | Attendance rules enforce councillors’ obligations, preventing seats being held in name only. |
| Candidate Vetting | Parties with rapid growth (like Reform UK) may need stronger vetting or training to ensure representatives understand their duties. |
| Community Trust | Non-attendance and inactivity can erode trust in local institutions and spur calls for recall mechanisms or governance reform. |
Summary
- Cllr David Thomas was automatically removed from a community council seat after missing enough meetings to trigger disqualification under law. (Nation.Cymru)
- He attributed his absence to a stretched schedule of other duties — but the statutory rule is clear and inflexible without a formal dispensation. (Nation.Cymru)
- Similar issues have arisen elsewhere, like Shaun Knowles’s minimal engagement on Northumberland County Council, highlighting a pattern of concerns about attendance and effectiveness among some councillors. (The Independent)
- The removal underscores the importance of formal participation in democratic bodies and has reignited debate about councillor accountability and party preparedness. (The Independent)