Laura Anne Jones, a senior Conservative Member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales East, has dramatically defected to Reform UK, becoming the party's first representative in the Welsh parliament.
The move, announced by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at the Royal Welsh Show, marks a significant blow to the Welsh Conservatives and signals Reform's growing influence in Wales ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections. Jones cited deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the Conservative Party, saying it was no longer 'recognisable' to her. Her defection has sparked fierce criticism from former colleagues, who accuse her of betraying voters, while Reform UK hails the move as a turning point.
The defection comes amid a wave of similar moves by other Welsh Conservative councillors, highlighting mounting unrest within the party.
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