Laura Anne Jones defects to Reform party
The Member for the Welsh Parliament for South Wales East has confirmed she will leave the Welsh Conservatives to join the Reform party
Last updated 22nd Jul 2025
The Member for the Welsh Parliament for South Wales East has confirmed she will leave the Welsh Conservatives to join the Reform party.
Speaking at the Royal Welsh Show, Laura Anne Jones said:
"After thirty one years in the Conservative Party, I've just suddenly felt that the Conservative Party was unrecognizable to me.
"It wasn't the party that I joined over three decades ago. "
"I could no longer sort of justify on the doorsteps, conservative policies that were happening, and I could no longer deal with membership and face the membership and and and justify what the party were doing.
"This is what's right for the people of Wales, the people of Britain.
"And I truly believe that I've joined a party today in Reform UK that listens to people, is listening to people of Great Britain, and speaks to me, and I know speaks to so many people in terms of the values that it offers and what it wants to see done".
First elected in 2003, Jones served until 2007, before returning in 2020.
She was then re-elected for South Wales East after the election in 2021.
Now, the Welsh Conservatives are down to 14 politicians in the Senedd.
Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,
“This is yet another desperate Tory defection who knows the writing is on the wall for their party’s prospects next May.
“Our national parliament is not a plaything for those who want to set Wales on a road to ruin.
“Only a Plaid Cymru government will build a fair, ambitious and prosperous nation.
A Welsh Labour spokesperson said:
“Today’s defection is further proof that Reform are just the Tories in teal ties. Neither party cares about the people of Wales.
“Laura Anne Jones has seen the polls and, in a desperate attempt to keep her Senedd seat, is leaving the sinking Tory ship. This is someone who backed Liz Truss’ reckless economics which crashed the economy, lost her front bench role over expenses claims and her own party said they were embarrassed by her racist slur in a WhatsApp group.
“She claims she’s now part of the solution not the problem. Reform have no plan for Wales only Welsh Labour is listening and delivering for the people of Wales.“
Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS said:
"Naturally, I'm disappointed by Laura's decision and Conservative Party members and voters in South East Wales will feel very let down by her announcement.
"The Welsh Conservatives will not allow this to distract us from our national mission to boot Labour out and fix Wales.
"In the meantime, we wish Laura all the very best in her new high tax and high spend party."
Continuing at a news conference at the Royal Welsh Show, Jones said she felt the Reform is 'part of the solution, not the problem'.
The next Senedd elections take place in May 2026.