Laura Anne Jones, the sole Reform UK Member of the Senedd, has been suspended from the Welsh Parliament for two weeks without pay after a parliamentary inquiry found that she breached multiple elements of the Senedd’s code of conduct, including the use of a racial slur in a private WhatsApp chat. The suspension, which began immediately following a vote on November 19, 2025, comes after a lengthy and, by all accounts, harrowing investigation that placed Jones at the center of a heated debate about standards, accountability, and the culture within Welsh politics.
The episode began in August 2023, when Jones wrote “No chinky spies for me” in a staff WhatsApp group while discussing concerns about TikTok and alleged Chinese espionage. According to Nation Cymru, the Senedd Standards Commissioner’s report detailed not only this incident but also further derogatory remarks made by Jones about a former caseworker, whom she called a “wanker” and suggested had ADHD. The investigation also uncovered Jones’s failure to challenge offensive comments posted by staff in the same chat, including remarks mocking multiculturalism, gay people, and other Welsh Conservative politicians.
The findings, as reported by the BBC, concluded that these were not isolated incidents but formed part of “a pattern of poor culture within the office of the Member rather than an isolated incident.” The Senedd’s Standards Committee, chaired by Labour MS Hannah Blythyn, stated that Jones’s conduct “fell far below the standards expected and points to an office culture where there was little respect towards others nor any consideration of what may be found offensive.”
The committee’s report, as cited by The Guardian, noted that the code of conduct applies to Members at all times, whether in public or private communications. It emphasized that “inappropriate and offensive comments have no place in our Senedd or society.” The committee recommended a two-week suspension without pay, a sanction that was approved by Senedd Members on the evening of November 19, 2025.
The investigation also examined allegations that Jones had encouraged staff to inflate mileage claims. Police were asked in 2024 to investigate, but ultimately found no evidence of fraud. The Standards Commissioner accepted Jones’s explanation that her messages—such as “Always make more than I did – add in stuff please OK,” and “If you could always do more than it says, that’d be fab”—had been misinterpreted. As a result, these findings were dismissed, but five breaches of the code of conduct remained upheld, all relating to discriminatory language, personal attacks, failure to ensure appropriate staff behavior, and bringing the Senedd into disrepute.
Addressing the Senedd before the vote, Jones delivered an emotional apology, describing her WhatsApp comments as “regrettable” and accepting the findings of the Commissioner’s report. According to ITV Wales, she told the chamber: “I fully accept the Standards Commissioner’s findings… As for the language that I regrettably used in the private WhatsApp messages, I would like to take the opportunity to apologise for that once again.” Jones also spoke candidly about the toll the investigation had taken on her mental health and her family, stating that the process and leaks to the press “had a negative impact on my family, especially my children, as well as a hugely detrimental impact on my own health and mental health.”
Jones revealed that the nearly two-year investigation, which included both the expenses probe and the code of conduct inquiry, had led to multiple suicide attempts. “The pressure of being portrayed in such a serious and distressing way, despite the clear findings that it was no wrongdoing, has taken a significant toll on me, which led me to try and try drown out that noise and nearly take my own life a number of times,” she said. “I wouldn’t wish what I’ve had to experience on my worst enemy.”
Despite the severity of the findings, Jones pledged to use the experience to advocate for changes in how such investigations are conducted. She called for a more independent process, arguing that the current system’s mix of political and procedural elements could undermine impartiality. “Arguably this shows that perhaps, as other members have argued, that this part of the process isn’t ideal and could bring into question impartiality, which is perhaps a strong argument for a truly independent process going forward into the next Senedd,” she said.
Jones’s suspension is a significant setback for Reform UK, which had gained its first seat in the Senedd when she defected from the Conservative Party in July 2025. As The Guardian reported, Reform UK had been hoping to build momentum ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections, but the controversy has put the party’s internal culture and rhetoric under scrutiny. A spokesperson for Reform UK Wales said after the report’s release, “Laura has rightly apologised for her comments, made in a private WhatsApp.” Meanwhile, a Plaid Cymru spokesperson condemned Jones’s remarks as “vile and completely unacceptable,” and a Welsh Labour spokesperson pointed to the continuity of such language from Jones’s time as a Conservative to her role in Reform UK.
The suspension also comes just weeks after Reform UK’s hopes were dashed in the Caerphilly by-election, where their anti-immigration stance was seen by many as being at odds with the values of a country proud of its welcoming attitude toward newcomers. Some political observers, as noted in The Guardian, have speculated that the controversy surrounding Jones could further erode support for Reform UK among Welsh voters who are sensitive to issues of discrimination and respect in public life.
The Standards Committee’s report also raised concerns about the treatment of the original complainant, who is autistic, during the internal process. It recommended that future investigations include early checks for reasonable adjustments to ensure fair treatment for all involved—a point that highlights the broader implications of the case for workplace culture and inclusivity within the Senedd.
Jones’s suspension will prevent her from participating in Senedd proceedings until early December 2025, after which she will be eligible to return to her seat representing South Wales East. The episode has sparked a wider conversation within Welsh politics about the standards of conduct expected from elected officials, the importance of accountability, and the need for robust support systems for both staff and Members facing disciplinary procedures.
As the dust settles, the Senedd—and the public—are left to reflect on what this case reveals about the pressures of political life, the boundaries of private and public conduct, and the ongoing challenge of fostering a respectful and inclusive culture at the heart of Welsh democracy.
