From Carwyn to Caroline? MS who left Brexit Party over anti-Senedd stance will stand in Bridgend as independent

Former Brexit Party Senedd Member Caroline Jones has announced that she will stand in Bridgend as an independent at next year’s Senedd election.

Jones was elected a UKIP Member for South Wales West in 2016 but after a period as a Brexit Party MS is now an Independent Member of the Senedd.

Last month she left the Brexit Party saying that she disagreed with their stance on abolishing the Welsh Parliament.

Bridgend will have a new MS next year as former First Minister Carwyn Jones is standing down, having been appointed as Professor of Law at Aberystwyth University.

“It’s time for politicians to be accountable to the people of Bridgend and Porthcawl and not slaves to their political party,” Caroline Jones told Golwg360.

“For too long, our elected politicians – Labour and Conservative – have put their political parties first rather than the interests of local residents.

“That’s why I’m putting myself forward as an Independent Candidate at next year’s Welsh Parliamentary Election – to refocus the priorities of the people of Bridgend and Porthcawl.”

‘Evolutionary’

She added that she was calling for the election of Independent candidates across the country to restore public trust and engender Welsh interest in the governance of their country.

“There is no better opportunity to change politics in this country than as we recover from the devastating Covid-19 pandemic that will not only present challenges for our Health Service and social services, but also the Welsh economy,” she said.

“Devolution is an evolutionary process – I get the impression that some Members of Parliament are sitting in their ivory towers and see themselves above those voters who are sending them to Cardiff Bay in the first place.

“I want to turn this on its head. It’s time to end this attitude and refocus our goals on serving our communities and involving people in the decision-making process. ”