Reform UK has suffered a significant setback in Wales after its only Senedd member was suspended for two weeks without pay following an investigation into her use of a racial slur in an office WhatsApp group.
The Offensive Message and Investigation
Laura Anne Jones, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform earlier this summer, used an offensive Chinese slur during a discussion about potential Chinese government espionage through TikTok. The incident occurred in August 2023, according to a report by the Senedd's standards commissioner Douglas Bain.
The investigation revealed that at the time of the message, there was widespread public concern about TikTok's potential use by the Chinese government for information gathering. The standards of conduct committee's report stated unequivocally that Jones's conduct "fell far below the standards expected" and indicated "an office culture where there was little respect towards others or any consideration of what may be found offensive."
Additional Controversial Exchanges Uncovered
Further damaging evidence emerged from November 2023 WhatsApp exchanges involving Jones's staff member, who posted messages supporting former Home Secretary Suella Braverman's claims about "two-tier policing." The staff member wrote: "Suella was correct. We have two-tier policing. It was clear over the weekend if your white working class, you get hammered, if you're an Islamist it's all fine, spew all the hate you want."
Although Jones later accepted this post was unacceptable, the investigation found she failed to reprimand the staff member at the time. This additional finding contributed to the severity of the sanctions imposed.
Political Fallout and Reform's Response
The suspension represents a major blow to Reform UK's ambitions in Wales, coming just four weeks after the party's hopes of winning the Caerphilly byelection were dashed by Plaid Cymru. Reform had high hopes of making dramatic gains in next year's Senedd elections, but Jones's suspension may deter potential supporters.
When Jones originally defected to Reform, party leader Nigel Farage expressed confidence that the allegations against her would "all go away." Following the suspension, a Reform UK Wales spokesperson stated: "Laura has rightly apologised for her comments, made in a private WhatsApp."
Political opponents were less forgiving. A Plaid Cymru spokesperson described Jones's comments as "vile and completely unacceptable," adding that Reform's acceptance of her defection "tells us everything you need to know about the party."
In an emotional address to the Senedd before her suspension, Jones apologised for her language, stating she "never meant to cause any offence." She revealed the investigation and subsequent media leaks had severely affected her health and family, claiming she had nearly taken her own life.
The Welsh parliament voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday evening to suspend Jones for a fortnight without pay. Notably, Jones was cleared of separate complaints relating to false expenses claims during the same investigation.
