Laura Anne Jones
British politician (born 1979)
Laura Anne Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones in 2020 | |
| Member of the Senedd for South Wales East | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 July 2020[1] | |
| Preceded by | Mohammad Asghar |
| In office 1 May 2003 – 3 May 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Williams |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Asghar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1979-02-21) 21 February 1979 (age 45) Newport, Wales |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence(s) | Cardiff Bay, Wales |
| Alma mater | University of Plymouth |
| Website | www |
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.[2]
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.
Political career
She joined the Conservatives in 1996 and was involved in Conservative Future, the party's youth wing.
Elected to the Assembly at the 2003 election to represent South Wales East, she was the youngest member of the Assembly. She was appointed as the Conservative spokeswoman on sport, and sat on the Culture, Sport and Welsh Language, and Local Government and Public Services committees. Her profile was increased when she appeared on the BBC television programme Question Time in February 2004.
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.
At the 2015 general election she contested the safe Labour seat of Islwyn for the Conservatives and finished third with 5,366 votes.[3] In the 2017 Welsh local elections she was elected to the Wyesham ward on Monmouthshire County Council winning 42% of the vote.[4] At the 2019 general election she contested the Labour seat of Blaenau Gwent for the Conservatives and finished third with 5,749 votes.[5]
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.[6][7]
She was re-elected at the 2021 Senedd election.
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."[8] Jones apologised for the comments.
She did not contest the 2022 Monmouthshire County Council elections.[9] Her previous ward, Wyesham, elected an independent candidate.[10]
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.[11][12] In June 2024, messages were released which appeared to show Jones instructing staff to claim expenses for more petrol than she used.[12] Jones was asked to stand down from her role in Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet shortly after the release of the messages.[13]
References
- ^ "Laura Anne Jones MS". Welsh Parliament. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ "Councillor details - County Councillor Laura Jones". democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2015. London: Times Books. 2015. p. 240. ISBN 978-0-00-812631-5.
- ^ "Election results for Wyesham". Monmouthshire Council. May 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2019. London: Times Books. 2015. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1.
- ^ "New Conservative Senedd member is confirmed". BBC News. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Laura Anne Jones confirmed as new South East Wales MS following Mo Asghar's death". South Wales Argus. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Tory MS Laura Anne Jones sorry for old 'shooting chavs' Facebook post". BBC News. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Ex-council leader among 11 councillors stepping down". Monmouthshire Beacon. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Election results for Wyesham, 5 May 2022". democracy.monmouthshire.gov.uk. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
- ^ "Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister under investigation by police and Standards Commissioner". 17 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Laura Anne Jones: Text messages emerge in Tory expenses row". BBC News. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Laura Anne Jones: Tory MS stripped of job over expenses row". BBC News. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
External links
- Laura Anne Jones MS Website
Offices held
| Senedd | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member for South Wales East 2020 – present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by Phil Williams | Member for South Wales East 2003 – 2007 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Jonathan Morgan | Baby of the House 2003–2007 | Succeeded by |
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- Llywydd (presiding officer): Elin Jones
Politics
Wales
