00:00I will announce now that the leader of Reform UK Wales is a man who was born in the Valleys,
00:10who, like so many, sadly, young people from Wales, headed off to London for a career in which he did well.
00:19He also went on to be a cabinet member of the Council in Barnet and the leader of Barnet Council for some years.
00:28So we have somebody here from the Valleys, somebody here with considerable business experience,
00:35but somebody who knows what it is to run big budgets.
00:39Somebody who knows how difficult it is to be in government.
00:43And that quality, that combination, is what made me realise that the man to do this,
00:49I'm going to introduce him to you right now, he's here, I promise.
00:54It's not like Robert Jenner. Do you remember that?
00:58I'm confident Dan Thomas is here.
01:03So please welcome the leader of Reform Wales.
01:08Please welcome Dan Thomas.
01:10My story is similar to many of you in this room and watching at home.
01:14I was born and raised in the Welsh Valleys, where my family lived for generations.
01:21My grandad was a minor, as was his dad before him.
01:25A strong work ethic ran in the family, and I studied hard at school,
01:30while juggling paper rounds and training with the local air cadets.
01:34I have fond memories of growing up in Wales, and I didn't want to leave when I turned 18.
01:41My parents were sad to see me go, or so they tell me.
01:44But for many young Welshmen and women, good opportunities in Wales are few and far between.
01:50The well-paying jobs and the high-flying career paths are simply not there.
01:57So I left to build a successful career in financial services in London,
02:02while serving my new community as a councillor and council leader.
02:06At 27 years, I'm back home, raising two young boys in the valley,
02:14so they can enjoy the same beautiful Welsh countryside that I played in as a child.
02:20I've come back to where I belong.
02:22At the Senate of elections in May, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
02:26to smash Labour's failing grip in Wales.
02:30And as your new leader in Wales, I will pour my heart and soul into fighting for every vote.
02:35We will have a positive, ambitious manifesto.
02:39We will have a team of talented, passionate candidates who know their communities
02:43and will be taking our message of change to the streets.
02:48We're fighting to win, fighting for every vote.
02:53Because this is the last chance for Wales.
02:56We are at a turning point.
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