Police U-turn on decision to end investigation into Tory MS’ expenses
Emily Price
South Wales Police have U-turned on a decision to end an investigation into Welsh Conservative MS Laura Anne Jones.
A source told Nation Cymru on Monday (October 7) that the force were no longer probing allegations that the MS had falsified mileage for her expenses claims.
However, further leaked correspondence appears to show that the case will remain open after “new information” came to light today.
It’s understood that the new development will be looked at by a senior officer alongside previous evidence.
A South Wales Police spokesperson said the force are “unable to provide an update at this time”.
Petrol
Laura Anne Jones was stripped of her shadow cabinet position in June after WhatsApp messages appeared to show a member of staff being asked: “When doing petrol thing – always make more than I did – add in stuff please ok.”
The Senedd Standard’s Commissioner Douglas Bain launched a probe following a complaint about Ms Jones but put it on hold whilst officers carried out their own investigation into the messages.
The Standards Commissioner is an independent person appointed by the Welsh Parliament to investigate complaints about the conduct of Members of the Senedd.
The process is highly confidential with no details made public until the Commissioner has reached a conclusion.
‘Misconceived’
A solicitor speaking on behalf the MS for South Wales East previously said she was “satisfied that any allegations in relation to impropriety surrounding expenses are entirely misconceived”.
Although Ms Jones was suspended from the shadow culture brief, Tory Senedd group leader Andrew RT Davies did not remove the party whip.
It is understood that he is waiting for both investigations to reach a conclusion before taking any action.
Laura Anne Jones was invited to comment.
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Fiddling mileage allowances – how bloody low can a well paid politician go ? The greed and lack of responsibility is breathtaking.
Next she’ll be accepting free clothes, specs, a posh flat, and Swift tickets from an ‘admirer’.
This is what you get when a culture of entitlement flourishes.
Her former aide Ed Sumner seemed to also be encouraging the practice of creating works of fiction on parliamentary expenses forms. Will he also be helping the relevant people with their enquiries?
Will his (alleged) current employer, Reform UK, be allowing him the time off work to assist?
In Reform UK’s recent “professionalisation” drive, did they ask for a reference from Mr Sumner’s old employer detailing the fantastic reputational enhancements and team management that he delivered for her?
Here’s an idea. Like a football club that will not be allowed to ascend into the football league from the National league if their ground does not meet the required ‘standards’, nobody can be elected to our Parliament on the same basis. That would wipe out the Tories, either through direct involvement or complicity and definitely a few others. I’m sure we can find 96 worthy members to sit in our expanded Senedd. There might just have to be a few different well vetted faces.
Police all over the UK have a habit of doing U-turns when it involves certain people. How convenient….. yet again!!! Stinks of corruption.