Laura Anne Jones, a senior member of the Welsh Conservatives and Member of the Senedd (MS), has defected to Reform UK, becoming the party's first representative in the Welsh Parliament.
Her move, announced alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage at the Royal Welsh Show, marks a significant blow to the Conservatives and signals Reform's growing influence in Wales ahead of the 2026 Senedd election. Jones cited deep dissatisfaction with the direction of the Conservative Party, claiming it is no longer recognizable to her. The defection has sparked fierce criticism from her former colleagues, who accuse her of betraying the party and the electorate.
This high-profile switch is part of a broader trend, with several Welsh councillors also leaving the Conservatives for Reform UK in recent weeks.
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