Laura Anne Jones Appointed Deputy Leader of Reform UK in Wales

Laura Anne Jones has been elected the deputy leader of Reform UK in Wales, succeeding Helen Jenner, who recently became the party's leader. The appointment was confirmed by Reform Senedd members in a meeting on Monday and formally announced by UK party leader Nigel Farage.

Jones, who previously served as the party's rural affairs spokesperson, defected from the Conservative Party to Reform in the summer of 2025. At the time, her move was considered the most significant defection for Reform in Wales, unveiled at the Royal Welsh Show and reportedly causing consternation among her former colleagues. She retained her seat in Sir Fynwy Torfaen in the May elections.

This appointment follows a period of controversy for Jones. In November 2025, she was suspended from the Senedd for two weeks after it was revealed she had used a racial slur in a WhatsApp chat. Jones issued an apology, stating she was "genuinely sorry" for the remark made in August 2023 and asserting that she was not racist.

Earlier in her tenure, Jones also drew criticism for remarks suggesting rival parties had considered the idea of children self-identifying as cats. She faced accusations of misinformation but maintained that the issue had been brought to her attention by parents.

Jenner, who has now taken on the leadership role, was a member of UKIP before joining Reform's predecessor, the Brexit Party. Farage described her as a "determined campaigner" during her unveiling.