In a surprise move, a high profile Conservative Senedd member has defected to the Reform party.

Announcing the news at the Royal Welsh Show, Laura Ann Jones, Conservative regional member for South Wales East, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Housing and the Armed Forces said she could “no longer justify Conservative policies on the doorstep”, and added her former party found out as the press conference was unfolding in Llanelwedd.

Adding: "I've just suddenly felt that the Conservative Party was unrecognisable to me. It wasn't the party that I joined over three decades ago."

She said Reform "is listening to the people of Great Britain".

It makes her the first Reform UK Senedd Member in Wales and the highest profile Welsh politician to defect from the Conservatives.

“What Laura brings with her is conviction and experience and she knows how the place works, which is very important to us,” said party leader Nigel Farage.

Speaking about her defection, she said "I truly believe I have joined a party today in Reform UK that listens to people. It is listening to people of Great Britain, it speaks to me, and I know speaks many people about the values it offers and what it wants to see done.”

She went on to say at the press conference: "Wales is a complete mess, we've the worst educational outcomes, we've got health statistics that are the worst in the UK, farmers are getting battered, older people are getting battered and vulnerable people are getting battered and we can't have this go on.”

Welsh Conservative leader in the Senedd Darren Millar said: "Naturally, I'm disappointed by Laura's decision and Conservative Party members and voters in South East Wales will feel very let down by her announcement.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "This is yet another desperate Tory defection who knows the writing is on the wall for their party's prospects next May."