Nigel Farage has unveiled Conservative Senedd Member Laura Anne Jones as his newest recruit into Reform UK's burgeoning ranks.
Farage, who recently welcomed ex-Welsh Secretary David Jones to Reform's turquoise fold, announced Jones's defection during an appearance at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells, Powys, earlier today.
The Reform UK leader described Jones's defection as a "big step forward for [the party] in Wales", with Farage already attracting support from a number of local councillors.
Jones initially served as a Senedd Member for South Wales East between 2003 and 2007, returning to Cardiff Bay in 2020.
Speaking from Builth Wells, Jones said she had been a Conservative member for more than three decades but now describes the Tory Party as "unrecognisable".
Jones, who described Farage as a "great man", added: "Wales is a complete mess.
"As you know, we've got the worst educational outcomes. We've got health statistics that are the worst in the UK.
"Farmers are getting battered, pensioners are getting battered... we can't have this go on."
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| Nigel Farage secures major defection as ex-Tory switch marks 'big step forward' for Reform UK in key target electionJones had been re-selected to contest the new Welsh Parliament seat of Sir Fynwy Torfaen ahead of next year's election.
However, Jones faced a contest with Tory Senedd Member Peter Fox for top spot on the Tory list.
Darren Millar, who serves as the Tory Party's Senedd leader, said he was "disappointed" and warned that Conservative voters would feel "very let down by her announcement".
He added: "The Welsh Conservatives will not allow this to distract us from our national mission to boot Labour out and fix Wales.
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|Leader of Reform Nigel Farage and former Conservative Member of the Senedd, Laura Anne Jones attend the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show
"In the meantime, we wish Laura all the very best in her new high tax and high spend party."
A Welsh Labour spokesman also jibed: “Today’s defection is further proof that Reform are just the Tories in teal ties. Neither party cares about the people of Wales.
“Laura Anne Jones has seen the polls and, in a desperate attempt to keep her Senedd seat, is leaving the sinking Tory ship."
Jones joins a number of high-profile Tory defectors joining Reform's ranks, with ex-Conservative chairman Sir Jake Berry announcing his switch just a few weeks ago.
GETTY | Welsh Tory leader Darren Millar blasted the planFarage is now hinting that more could soon follow, with the Reform UK leader telling GB News that a fresh wave could soon "ditch the blue rosette".
He said: "As I say, if people are coming to Reform simply because they see it as the best life raft for their political careers, then I’m not interested.
"But if they’re coming to Reform because they really believe in what we’re trying to do and they really believe our country is in deep and desperate trouble and needs to be turned around and they want to be part of that project, then the door is open."
Reform UK is setting its sights on topping the polls at next year's Welsh Parliament Election.
REUTERS | Reform UK leader Nigel FarageOpinion polls suggest Reform UK and Plaid Cymru remain neck-and-neck, with Labour losing its grip on the principality to slump into third.
Nowcast suggests Reform UK would likely win a plurality of seats if the contest was held today, returning 30 out of 96 Senedd Members.
However, Plaid Cymru and Labour could still form a razor-thin coalition after being handed 28 and 24 seats respectively.
Meanwhile, the Tories could fall to as low as 11 seats, leaving the Liberal Democrats on two and the Greens to claim victory in one.