Tories were aware of complaint about MS - claim

Laura Anne Jones has been Conservative MS for South Wales East since 2021

The Welsh Conservatives were aware of complaints made about one of their Senedd politicians despite saying no complaint had been made, a party source has claimed.

Laura Anne Jones is being investigated by the police and the standards commissioner after allegedly making false expenses claims.

BBC Wales was told that concerns about bullying allegations in Ms Jones' office had been raised with a senior Conservative staff member before the standards commissioner was told.

A Welsh Conservative Senedd spokesperson said no official complaint had been received by the group, the leader of the group or the Conservative Party itself.

Ms Jones, the Welsh Conservative shadow culture minister, has previously said she will co-operate with "any investigation".

A number of Conservative have raised concerns about Andrew RT Davies's comments, with one saying they were "uncomfortable" with the way the complaint had been dealt with internally.

On BBC Politics Wales on Sunday, Senedd Tory leader Mr Davies, said the group of Conservative politicians in Cardiff Bay had "never had that complaint" and that a complaint had not come to him "directly".

Allegations of false expense claims emerged as part of a complaint to the Standards Commissioner, Douglas Bain, by a former member of Ms Jones' staff.

It related to alleged bullying allegations against another employee of Ms Jones.

BBC Wales understands Mr Bain referred the matter to the police after messages came to light which allegedly suggested a former employee was told to claim for travel on her behalf that had not happened.

It is understood Mr Bain's investigation is on hold while the police investigate.

Police have spoken to at least one Conservative member of staff as part of their investigation.

A party source said the complainant in the case had raised concerns about bullying with a senior Conservative member of staff prior to approaching Standards Commissioner Douglas Bain.

The source said the staff member had been "dismissive" of the initial bullying complaints.

Another senior Tory source said an internal investigation was taking place after the matter was recently raised directly with Mr Davies.

In an earlier statement, Ms Jones said: "I would co-operate fully with any investigation into my activities as a Member of the Senedd, as would be expected of any member.

“The standards process is confidential, and I would expect others not to provide a running commentary, or they may risk jeopardising the integrity of that process.”

South Wales Police has confirmed it has received information from the Senedd Commissioner for Standards and it is currently under investigation.

What have the Welsh Conservatives said?

A Welsh Conservative Senedd spokesperson said: “No official complaint has been received by the Welsh Conservative group, the leader of the group or the Conservative Party.

“Individual MS’s staff are the responsibility of the employing member, who are supported by the Senedd’s members’ business support [department], with the staff handbook acting as their guide.

“The complainant has chosen to use the standard’s commissioner to progress their complaint. This is a confidential process and we will not be commenting further until that process has come to a close.”