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Laura Anne Jones has been named as the new deputy leader of Reform in Wales.
The Sir Fynwy Torfaen MS takes on the role from Helen Jenner, who was promoted from deputy to leader following the resignation of Dan Thomas.
Mr Thomas, who continues to represent the Casnewydd Islwyn constituency, stepped down as leader last week following his arrest on suspicion of assault and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour. He was released on police bail and denies all wrongdoing.
His resignation came on the same day as Reform MS Sarah Cooper-Lesadd defected to Plaid Cymru while launching a scathing attack on her former party and colleagues – claiming they were “not serious about governing Wales”.
Ms Jones first entered the then-Welsh Assembly in 2003 as a Conservative representing the former South Wales East region – which included Caerphilly County Borough. She served until 2007, before re-entering the Senedd in 2020 following the passing of Conservative MS Mohammad Asghar.
Ms Jones was re-elected in 2021, serving in the Conservative shadow cabinet before defecting to Reform in 2025.
In November 2025, she was suspended from the Senedd for two weeks after using a racial slur in a WhatsApp group chat in August 2023 about the Chinese-owned video app TikTok.
Speaking following her appointment as Reform’s new Welsh deputy, Ms Jones said: “We’ve made a fantastic start here in the Senedd, giving a voice to the voiceless and standing up for Wales’ left-behind communities.
“I’m excited to work with Helen Jenner and the rest of our team to deliver the real change Wales needs.
“We have a strong, effective leader in Helen, and I’ll do all I can to support her and our whole group going forward.”
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