Ed Sumner

Ed Sumner is a British political communications adviser who has served as head of communications for Reform UK.

Career

In October 2024, PoliticsHome reported that Sumner had replaced Gawain Towler as Reform UK's head of communications. The publication said the appointment had caused concern among some figures within the party, partly because of earlier reporting about WhatsApp messages attributed to Sumner while he was working for Welsh Conservative politician Laura Anne Jones.

In February 2025, The Guardian described Sumner as a Welsh former Conservative who ran Reform UK's press operation. In March 2026, The Spectator referred to Sumner as Reform UK's director of communications in an article about the party's organisation and electoral strategy.

Media coverage In November 2025, The Guardian reported that Nation.Cymru had received legal correspondence from barrister Adam Richardson, who said he was representing Sumner, after the outlet named Sumner in coverage relating to Jones. According to The Guardian, Richardson alleged misuse of private information, breach of confidence and breach of the editors' code, and asked for Sumner's name to be removed from the article.

Later that month, Nation.Cymru reported that leaked screenshots from an internal Reform UK WhatsApp group showed Sumner using an offensive term about Welsh journalist Will Hayward after Hayward criticised Reform UK's decision not to name a Welsh leader before the 2026 Senedd election. The story was also covered by journalism trade publication HoldTheFrontPage.

The National Union of Journalists Wales Executive Council later issued a statement criticising Reform UK's conduct toward journalists in Wales. The statement referred to legal correspondence involving Nation.Cymru and comments attributed to Sumner.