An ex-member of Reform UK who recently joined Plaid Cymru has faced accusations of dishonesty from Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK. Sarah Cooper-Lesadd was elected to the Welsh Parliament, or Senedd, as a Reform UK representative just four months ago. However, she recently defected to Plaid Cymru, a Welsh nationalist party, after claiming that Reform UK had "no interest in Wales" and that the Senedd was being used as a "staging post" for Nigel Farage's political goals. Tice accused Cooper-Lesadd of "deliberately misleading" Reform UK, saying that even with thorough vetting, it is hard to detect when someone "fibs to you." He criticized her shift from being a unionist—someone who supports the United Kingdom as a single country—to a separatist, who supports Wales as an independent nation. He also questioned her change in stance on immigration, suggesting she had moved from defending national borders to wanting to open them and create a "nation of sanctuary." Plaid Cymru responded by stating that Cooper-Lesadd had been "honest about her political beliefs" and that her views had evolved since she entered politics. The party emphasized that her decision to leave Reform UK was based on her personal convictions and not an attempt to deceive anyone. This defection comes at a difficult time for Reform UK in Wales, following the resignation of the party's Welsh leader, Dan Thomas, after his arrest on suspicion of assault. While Tice did not confirm whether Helen Jenner, the deputy leader in Wales, would take over from Thomas, he insisted that the recent challenges had not weakened the party. Reform UK currently holds 33 elected positions in Wales, making it the second-largest party in the region. Tice emphasized that the party continues to bring attention to important issues that affect Welsh residents. Cooper-Lesadd and Plaid Cymru have been contacted for further comment.