Nigel Farage has announced Helen Jenner as the new leader of Reform in Wales, replacing Dan Thomas after his arrest on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Speaking on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff on Monday, Farage said: “I’ve known Helen for many, many years. She is a determined campaigner.”

Farage said he was sorry for former leader Thomas’s “personal difficulties”, but said it had been untenable for him to continue.

“We could have done without this bump in the road,” he said.

Jenner, who served as Thomas’s deputy alongside her role as Senedd member for Bangor Conwy Môn, said it was an honour to be elected to the top job.

A leadership vote was held by Reform’s 33 Senedd members on Monday morning, in which BBC Wales understands Jenner’s colleague Jason O’Connell stood against her.

O’Connell had not been expected to stand.

Speaking to reporters outside the Senedd, Farage said there would be a vote for a new Welsh deputy leader to replace Jenner on Tuesday.

Jenner had been interim leader and favourite to replace Thomas, with sources telling BBC Wales that “very senior” Reform figures had backed her.

Thomas stepped down on 15 September after he was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling or coercive behaviour. He was bailed pending further enquiries, and denies doing anything wrong.

He was not on the steps of the Senedd for Jenner’s unveiling as leader, but he remains a Reform MS after chief whip Llŷr Powell said he had not considered removing the whip from him.

After he stepped down, Thomas had been among the Reform Senedd members who met in Cardiff Bay last week to discuss their next steps, with a party official from London attending to oversee proceedings.

Additional reporting from Adam Hale