Reform UK’s only representative in Senedd ‘caused a lot of hurt’ over racial slur
Members of the Chinese community in Wales said the racist slur used by Reform England’s only member of the Welsh Parliament was “deeply regrettable”.
Laura Anne Jones was suspended from the Senedd for two weeks for using offensive language in a WhatsApp group in August 2023.
Ms Jones, who quit the Conservative Party earlier this year, had commented about the Chinese in a group discussion on Chinese-owned app TikTok in August 2023: “No spying for me.”
Ms Jones apologized for her comment and was banned from the Senedd chamber for 14 days, which was welcomed by the Chinese Association of Wales (CIWA).
But the group said Ms Jone’s use of the term carried “deeply hurtful and racist connotations” and that it was “deeply disappointing to hear such language from an elected representative”.
CIWA founder and chief executive Shirley Au-Yeung told the BBC the insult was “very upsetting”.
“This word is sometimes used without people fully understanding its impact, but the public needs to be particularly mindful of the harm this type of language can cause,” he said.
“We do not want to live in a society where racially derogatory language is normalized or rejected.”
Ms Au-Yeung added: “Many ethnically Chinese people born in Wales shared that their Welsh identity can be questioned at times due to their appearance.”
“People look at their faces and think they are immigrants, they feel they are Welsh, but other people question them and it makes them very upset.
“We do not use this word in our language. It exists in English, there is no direct translation. This term has historically been used in negative and racist contexts, and its impact is still deeply felt.”
CIWA advocacy leader Foo Seng told the BBC: “By using this word you are telling the public that it is okay to use this word to talk about Chinese society.
“It’s hard to express the sadness we feel, but it’s just humbling.”
The Independent has contacted Ms Jones and Reform UK for further comment. When he was suspended last month, he said he “fully accepted” the findings of parliament’s standards committee.
He added that he and his team had completed Senedd respect and behavior training: “As for the language I unfortunately used in private WhatsApp messages, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for that once again in this chamber.”
“I never meant to offend anyone and it was never my intention to do so. It is extremely regrettable that the message and others in which I expressed my frustrations privately and again apologized were leaked to the press and made public and had the potential to be misunderstood and hurt someone needlessly.”
The committee also examined allegations that Ms Jones had fraudulently made false expense claims but found “there had been no breach of the code of conduct” in this regard.
