Facebook/David ThomasA supermarket chain has complained to a Reform UK councillor after he posted pictures of himself cutting a ribbon at the opening of a new store.
Last week David Thomas said on social media that he had “officially” opened a new Lidl in Cwmbran, posing alongside store workers, and two other Reform councillors.
But the discount supermarket said no official ribbon cutting took place and no formal invitations had been issued. Thomas’ post was later deleted.
The Torfaen councillor said Lidl’s complaint was “absolute nonsense”, accused the store of not wanting to be associated with his party, and said he had been invited by a Torfaen council official.
The council said a “junior member” of its “employability team” had emailed the councillor regarding the opening time of the new store.
Thomas’ allegation against Lidl acting politically was disputed by a source at the supermarket who said it reflected his opinion “rather than the fact”.
Thomas made headlines earlier this week when it emerged he was listed as a composer on songs that include crude language about women.
Reform claimed that he did not create the songs. Labour called the lyrics “misogynistic” and said he should resign.
David Thomas/XThomas, who represents the Llantarnam ward in Torfaen, hopes to stand as a candidate at the Senedd election in 2026.
Reform believes it will win several seats in Cardiff Bay.
On the social media platform X on 6 February, Thomas said he was “absolutely thrilled to have the honor of officially opening the stunning, futuristic new [Lidl] store in Cwmbran today”.
He posted a picture of him holding a large pair of red scissors, alongside Torfaen’s other two Reform councillors, Jason O’Connell and Alan Slade. Other pictures showed him looking around the store.
A similar message was posted to Facebook.
All three Reform councillors joined the party last year.
Lidl said in a statement: “While our store openings are often attended by local officials in their capacity as elected community representatives, we are a non-partisan business and do not affiliate with any political party.
“On this occasion, no formal invitations were issued, and there was no official ribbon-cutting at our Cwmbran store opening.”
It confirmed it had contacted the councillor “to request amendments for accuracy in relation to their social media posts and in order to raise concerns from colleagues who had not consented to the external use of their images”.
The supermarket said that the photographs were taken “spontaneously after the store had already opened to customers”.
PA MediaThomas told BBC Wales he was invited to the opening by Torfaen council officials, and disputed that the photographs were taken spontaneously.
He said he had been shown around the store, and had been given a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon.
“This is absolute nonsense. This is political. The only reason they asked us to take their photos down is when they realised we were members of Reform UK.”
He added: “Do you really think that we just turned up there on a whim at half past seven in the morning to freeze?”
