Laura Anne Jones

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Laura Anne Jones

| honorific-suffix = MS

| image = File:Laura Anne Jones MS.jpg

| caption = Jones in 2020

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|2|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Newport, Wales

| death_date =

| death_place =

| restingplace =

| birthname =

| nationality =

| party = Conservative

| otherparty =

| spouse =

| relations =

| children =

| residence = Cardiff Bay, Wales

| alma_mater = University of Plymouth

| occupation =

| profession =

| cabinet =

| committees =

| portfolio =

| signature =

| website = {{URL|www.lauraannejones.wales}}

| office = Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Housing and the Armed Forces

| termstart = 12 December 2024

| leader = Darren Millar

| predecessor = Peter Fox {{Small|Local Government}}
Mark Isherwood {{Small|Housing}}

| office2 = Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport

| termstart2 = 3 December 2024

| termend2 = 12 December 2024

| predecessor2 = Herself

| leader2 = Andrew RT Davies

| termstart3 = 18 April 2024

| termend3 = 14 June 2024

| predecessor3 = Tom Giffard

| successor3 = Herself

| leader3 = Andrew RT Davies

| office4 = Shadow Minister for Education

| termstart4 = 27 May 2021

| termend4 = 18 April 2024

| successor4 = Tom Giffard

| predecessor4 = Suzy Davies

| leader4 = Andrew RT Davies

| office5 = Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government

| predecessor5 = David Melding {{Small|(Housing)}}
Mark Isherwood {{Small|(Local Government)}}

| successor5 = Sam Rowlands

| leader5 = Andrew RT Davies

| termstart5 = 24 January 2021

| termend5 = 29 March 2021

| office6 = Shadow Minister for Equalities, Children and Young People

| termstart6 = 17 July 2020

| leader6 = Paul Davies
Andrew RT Davies

| termend6 = 29 March 2021

| predecessor6 = Janet Finch-Saunders{{efn|As Shadow Minister for Children and Young People}}

| successor6 = Altaf Hussein{{efn|As Shadow Minister for Equalities}}

| office7 = Member of the Senedd
for South Wales East

| term_start7 = 6 July 2020{{cite news|url=https://senedd.wales/en/memhome/Pages/MemberProfile.aspx?mid=4562/|title=Laura Anne Jones MS|website=Welsh Parliament|accessdate=9 July 2020 }}

| predecessor7 = Mohammad Asghar

| term_start8 = 1 May 2003

| term_end8 = 3 May 2007

| predecessor8 = Phil Williams

| successor8 = Mohammad Asghar

| office9 = Monmouthshire County Councillor for Wyesham Ward

| termstart9 = 5 May 2017

| termend9 = 5 May 2022

| predecessor9 = Liz Hacket Pain

| successor9 = Emma Bryn

}}

Laura Anne Jones (born 21 February 1979) is a Conservative politician who has been the Member of the Senedd (MS) for the South Wales East electoral region since July 2020, having previously held the same seat as an Assembly Member (AM) in the National Assembly for Wales between 2003 and 2007. Jones also served as a county councillor for the Wyesham ward in Monmouthshire County Council from 2017 to 2022.{{Cite web |date= |title=Councillor details - County Councillor Laura Jones |url=https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=723 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702150220/https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=723 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |access-date=2020-07-02 |website=democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk}}

Background

The daughter of a farmer and a lecturer, Jones was born in Newport and brought up in Monmouthshire. She attended the University of Plymouth, where she studied politics.{{Cite news |date=2003-05-04 |title=Tory swaps waitressing for AM job |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/2999865.stm |access-date=2024-09-02 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Political career

She joined the Conservatives in 1996 and was involved in Conservative Future, the party's youth wing.

In December 2002 she was banned from driving for a year and fined £75, for drunk driving.{{Cite news |date=23 January 2003 |title=Drink-drive tory to stand in election |work=Newsquest - This is Gwent}}

= First Senedd period (2003-2007) =

Jones contested the South Wales East list and the Caerphilly constituency at the 2003 Welsh Assembly elections. She came third in Caerphilly, with 10.1% of the vote,{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} VOTE 2003 {{!}} Caerphilly |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/welsh_assembly/html/112.stm |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}} but was elected to represent South Wales East, as the second Conservative on the list.{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} VOTE 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/vote2003/welsh_assembly/html/25_region.stm |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}} She was the youngest member of the Second Assembly, and the joint-first Welsh Conservative female AM.{{cite news |date=14 May 2003 |title=Tory breaks ranks on assembly power |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3023977.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240626154845/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3023977.stm |archive-date=26 June 2024 |access-date=23 July 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite news |last=Watt |first=Nicholas |date=3 May 2003 |title=Women win half Welsh seats |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/may/03/uk.wales1 |work=The Guardian |pages=}} She said to the BBC at the time that she was "completely shocked" to have been elected. She was appointed as the Conservative spokeswoman on sport,{{Cite web |date=14 May 2003 |title=AM leaves Tory front bench to back more Assembly powers |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/am-leaves-tory-front-bench-2484602 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=www.walesonline.co.uk}} and sat on the Culture, Sport and Welsh Language, and Local Government and Public Services committees.

During her time as Welsh Conservative Sports Spokesperson she criticised the Welsh Government's plans to provide free summertime swimming in 2003, arguing that free swimming lessons would have been a better use of money.{{Cite web |date=25 June 2003 |title=Free summer swimming for children a first in Europe |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/free-summer-swimming-children-first-2482597 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Western Mail (later part of WalesOnline)}}

Her profile was increased when she appeared on the BBC television programme Question Time in February 2004.

Jones attempted to gain the nomination to replace David TC Davies as candidate for the Monmouth constituency, after Davies was elected to the UK Parliament.{{Cite news |last=Livingstone |first=Tomos |date=5 October 2005 |title=Twist in Tory row over Assembly seat |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/twist-tory-row-over-assembly-2371151 |work=Western Mail (later part of WalesOnline)}} She did not receive the seat, with Nick Ramsay, then a party staffer in the Assembly, being selected.{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=15 February 2006 |title=Female AM overlooked as Tories select mail candidate |work=Western Mail |pages=6}} Jones lost her seat in the Assembly in the 2007 Assembly election when Plaid Cymru gained one seat in the South Wales East region at the expense of the Conservatives.

In January 2007, Jones claimed for a £1,109.94 television on her expenses.{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Daniel |date=12 December 2008 |title=TORY AMs BUY iPODS ON EXPENSES |work=Press Association Newswire: Wales}}{{Cite news |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=13 December 2008 |title=What AMs have claimed on their expenses |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/what-ams-claimed-expenses-2134753 |work=WalesOnline}}{{Cite news |date=2008-12-12 |title=AMs bought iPods with allowances |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7778721.stm |access-date=2024-07-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

= Between Senedd terms =

At the 2015 general election she contested the safe Labour seat of Islwyn for the Conservatives and finished third with 5,366 votes.{{Cite web |title=UK Parliament election results: Election for the constituency of Islwyn on 7 May 2015 |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=UK Parliament election results |language=en-GB}}{{cite book|title=The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2015|date=2015|publisher=Times Books|location=London|isbn=978-0-00-812631-5|page=240}} At the 2019 general election she contested the Labour seat of Blaenau Gwent for the Conservatives and finished third with 5,749 votes.{{Cite news |title=Blaenau Gwent parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/W07000072 |access-date=2024-06-30 |language=en-GB}}{{cite book|title=The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2019|date=2015|publisher=Times Books|location=London|isbn=978-0-00-839258-1}}

In the 2017 Welsh local elections she was elected to the Wyesham ward on Monmouthshire County Council winning 42% of the vote and defeating Welsh Labour's Catherine Fookes.{{Cite news |date=May 2017 |title=Election results for Wyesham |url=https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=249 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628101704/https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=249 |archive-date=28 June 2020 |accessdate=26 June 2020 |work=Monmouthshire Council}} She did not contest the 2022 Monmouthshire County Council elections.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=Ex-council leader among 11 councillors stepping down |url=https://www.monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk/news/politics/ex-council-leader-among-11-councillors-stepping-down-515083 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Monmouthshire Beacon}} Her previous ward, Wyesham, elected an independent candidate.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=Election results for Wyesham, 5 May 2022 |url=https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=399&RPID=28695053 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519164127/https://democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=399&RPID=28695053 |archive-date=2024-05-19 |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk |language=en}}

= Second Senedd period (2020-) =

Following the death of Mohammad Asghar in June 2020, it was confirmed in July 2020 that Jones would become the MS for South Wales East, having been the next Conservative candidate on the regional list in the Assembly's 2016 election.{{Cite news|date=2020-07-02|title=New Conservative Senedd member is confirmed|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-53265621|access-date=2020-07-02}}{{Cite web|title=Laura Anne Jones confirmed as new South East Wales MS following Mo Asghar's death|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18556804.laura-anne-jones-confirmed-new-south-east-wales-ms/|access-date=2020-07-02|website=South Wales Argus|date=2 July 2020 |language=en}} She was appointed as Shadow Minister for Equalities, Children and Young People by Paul Davies shortly after.{{Cite news |date=2020-07-17 |title=Conservative Senedd leader reshuffles his Cardiff Bay team |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-53443889 |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In January 2021, after Paul Davies stood down as leader and was replaced by Andrew RT Davies, when her role was expanded to include Housing and Local Government.{{Cite news |date=24 January 2021 |title=Newly appointed Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies announces Shadow Cabinet |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-01-24/newly-appointed-welsh-conservatives-leader-andrew-rt-davies-announces-shadow-cabinet |work=ITV News}} These roles ceased to be shadow ministries in March 2021, after Nick Ramsay stood down to contest the 2021 Senedd Elections as an independent.{{Cite news |date=2021-03-29 |title=Wales election: Nick Ramsay leaves Welsh Tories to stand as independent |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-56561666 |access-date=2024-06-30 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

She was re-elected at the 2021 Senedd election. After the elections, she was appointed as Shadow Minister for Education.{{Cite web |title=Boozy MSs who drank in the Senedd after the alcohol ban came in get top roles on Welsh Tory frontbench - Wales Online |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/boozy-mss-who-drank-senedd-20689220 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Wales Online}} She held this role until the April 2024 reshuffle, where she was moved to the Shadow Culture portfolio, which she held for just under 2 months.{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-04-18 |title=Welsh Conservatives reshuffle shadow cabinet |url=https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-conservatives-reshuffle-shadow-cabinet/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}

In 2021, past Facebook posts from Jones surfaced in which she said "I would like to do a spot of Chav shooting" and "a shame that isn't legal."{{Cite news |date=2021-03-08 |title=Tory MS Laura Anne Jones sorry for old 'shooting chavs' Facebook post |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-56321650 |access-date=2024-05-19 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Jones apologised for the comments.

In May 2024 it was reported that Jones was being investigated by both South Wales Police and the Senedd’s Standards Commissioner for allegedly falsifying expenses claims.{{cite web | url=https://nation.cymru/news/welsh-conservative-shadow-minister-under-investigation-by-police-and-standards-commissioner/ | title=Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister under investigation by police and Standards Commissioner | date=17 May 2024 }}{{cite news |title=Laura Anne Jones: Text messages emerge in Tory expenses row |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpvvl16v4e5o |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=BBC News |date=13 June 2024}} In June 2024, messages were released which appeared to show Jones instructing staff to claim expenses for more petrol than she used. Jones was asked to stand down from her role in Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet shortly after the release of the messages.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-14 |title=Laura Anne Jones: Tory MS stripped of job over expenses row |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ddjd8p41ko |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} In October 2024, the investigation into this matter was re-opened, having been apparently dropped at an unknown earlier point in time.{{Cite news |last=Gwawar |first=Elliw |date=2024-10-07 |title=Police reopen dropped probe into politician |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c30l1gv7933o |work=BBC News}} In December 2024, she was cleared by the South Wales Police, with the investigation being handed back to the Senedd Standards Commissioner, Douglas Bain.{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-12-02 |title=Laura Anne Jones cleared by police over expenses allegations |url=https://nation.cymru/news/laura-anne-jones-cleared-by-police-over-expenses-allegations/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |work=Nation.Cymru}}

In August 2024, further messages were released that showed Jones using a racial slur, saying "No chinky spies for me!", in the context of discussion about use of the social media app TikTok within the Welsh Conservative group.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-09 |title=Tory politician Laura Anne Jones used racist slur in WhatsApp chat |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74j84y9xqgo |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-08-09 |title=Tory Senedd member speaks out on racism row |url=https://nation.cymru/news/tory-senedd-member-speaks-out-on-racism-row/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-08-08 |title=Screen grab reveals racist slur by Tory MS in group chat |url=https://nation.cymru/news/screen-grab-reveals-racist-slur-by-tory-ms-in-group-chat/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}} Her use of the term was condemned by Welsh Conservative colleague Natasha Asghar, who said she was "positively livid" and that "language like this is unacceptable at every level".

In September 2024, former AM and Wales Secretary David T. C. Davies joined Jones' staff.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-02 |title=David TC Davies: Ex-Welsh secretary working for Laura Anne Jones |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgjpyy5w23o |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Shortly after Andrew RT Davies announced his resignation as leader of the Welsh Conservatives, he told the BBC that Jones had been re-admitted into the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport.{{Cite tweet |number=1863980427234402624 |user=DeansOfCardiff |title=Andrew RT Davies said: “Following yesterday’s announcement, I’m pleased to welcome Laura Anne Jones MS back into the Welsh Conservatives Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport.” |first=David |last=Deans |date=2024-12-03 |access-date=2024-12-03}} Jones voted that she had confidence in Davies, and seconded a motion requiring the vote to be held as a show of hands, rather than as a secret ballot as had initially been expected.{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-12-03 |title=Andrew RT Davies wins confidence motion |url=https://nation.cymru/news/andrew-rt-davies-wins-confidence-motion/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |work=Nation.Cymru}}{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Emily |date=2024-12-03 |title=Andrew RT Davies resigns as leader of the Welsh Conservative Senedd group |url=https://nation.cymru/news/andrew-rt-davies-resigns-as-leader-of-the-welsh-conservative-senedd-group/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |work=Nation.Cymru}}{{Cite news |last=Molaski |first=Ruth |date=2024-12-03 |title=Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies narrowly survives no-confidence vote |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-welsh-conservatives-vote-30501698 |access-date=2024-12-03 |work=Wales Online}}

After Darren Millar took leadership of the Welsh Conservative Party, Jones was reshuffled to the role of Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Housing and the Armed Forces.{{Cite news |date=2024-12-12 |title=New Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar MS announces shadow cabinet |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-12-12/new-welsh-conservatives-leader-darren-millar-ms-announces-shadow-cabinet |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212171525/https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-12-12/new-welsh-conservatives-leader-darren-millar-ms-announces-shadow-cabinet |archive-date=2024-12-12 |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=ITV News}}