Reform UK Wales leader’s part‑time job with visa‑sponsoring firm raises questions
New register of interests shows Helen Jenner, Reform UK’s Senedd leader, tutors for a company that can sponsor skilled‑worker visas, sparking debate over party policy and political consistency.
Helen Jenner, the newly appointed leader of Reform UK in the Senedd, has disclosed a part‑time tutoring role with a company that can sponsor skilled‑worker visas for overseas students, a revelation that has prompted scrutiny of the party’s anti‑immigration stance.
Jenner, who succeeded Dan Thomas after his arrest on suspicion of assault and coercive control, added the entry to her register of interests in August, stating that she earns between £2,501 and £5,000 a year from the work.
The role, described as “less than five hours per week as a freelance English tutor”, is with Star English Ltd, a UK‑registered limited company whose sole director is Chinese national Haifeng Zhu.
Star English, formed in 2021, lists its average number of employees as one and claims the ability to sponsor visas into the UK through the skilled‑worker route, a power it obtained in May 2026.
Jenner’s register entry notes that the work began on 30 July 2026 and includes her own justification for the appointment.
“The company is registered in England, and I tutor overseas students online.” Therefore, it is my belief that this does not conflict with my duties in the Senedd or the Welsh education system.
Her annual Senedd salary of £124,713 contrasts sharply with the modest earnings from the tutoring job, which, based on the disclosed range, translates to roughly £9‑£20 an hour.
Star English’s website suggests it offers GCSE and A‑level tuition to students abroad, a claim that aligns with Jenner’s description of tutoring overseas learners.
A source who first highlighted the connection warned that the company’s staffing figures imply a very small workforce.
“As the company’s average number of employees is one, it is likely Helen Jenner is part of a select and small number of people employed by that company (e.g.”
The revelation has revived debate over the consistency of Reform UK’s policy platform, which has long campaigned to curb immigration and prioritise British workers.
“Reform has built its political reputation around campaigning to reduce immigration, restrict migration and put British workers first.”
Critics point to Jenner’s predecessor, Nathan Gill, who was convicted of taking Russian bribes and also faced criticism for employing overseas workers in his family care home.
While Jenner declined to comment when approached for a statement, the timing of her appointment – shortly after the company gained visa‑sponsorship powers – has raised eyebrows among opponents and party insiders alike.
Political analysts note that the role does not appear to involve direct interaction with UK‑based students, limiting any practical insight into the Welsh education system that Jenner claims to gain.
Nevertheless, the position does keep her connected to the broader overseas student market, a sector that could benefit from the company’s newly acquired ability to sponsor skilled‑worker visas.
Reform UK has not issued a formal response to the concerns, leaving the party’s leadership to navigate the potential fallout as the Senedd’s scrutiny of members’ external interests intensifies.
The episode underscores the challenges faced by politicians who balance front‑bench responsibilities with private employment, especially when the latter intersects with contentious policy areas such as immigration.