Image source, Senedd Cymru
The Conservative Party is taking a police investigation into the expenses of one of its members seriously, a Conservative member of the House of Lords (MS) has said.
A lawyer for Jones said he was “confident that any allegations of misconduct regarding expenses are completely misconceived.”
North Wales MS Sam Rowlands told BBC Radio Wales’ Sunday Supplement that action would be taken once the investigation was completed.
- author, Dan Moffat
- role, BBC News
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In one message, he asked staff: “Whenever I fill up with petrol, please put in more than I put in. Can you add something?”
BBC Wales has seen messages sent to staff asking whether Jones should claim politicians’ expenses for the days he was absent sick.
There was no direct answer to that question, but a graph of the proposed expenses was apparently sent to Jones’ mobile phone.
“If you can do more than what you normally write then that’s great. Thank you,” Jones’s response from her mobile phone read, along with a thumbs up emoji.
Another message from the same phone read: “Every time you fill up with gas make more than I make. Give me something extra,” followed by a thumbs up emoji and a folded hands emoji.
When the official asked, “Are you visiting the constituency office or something like that?” he replied, “Yes, that’s what I’m doing.” [folded hands emoji]”
The BBC cannot confirm whether the messages reflect the entire conversation between the parties or their full context.
Ms Jones is currently being investigated by Standards Commissioner Douglas Bain and South Wales Police.
Police investigations are ongoing. No arrests have been made.
“She has been removed from the Senate Shadow Cabinet and work is underway to understand what is going on. This is being carried out independently and I am confident that appropriate action will be taken as a result,” Mr Rowlands said.
“All we’ve seen so far are screenshots of some messages.
“We need to understand the details before we can take appropriate action.”
“The Shadow Cabinet plays a vital role in the House of Lords so removing Ms Lawlor from her role is a significant move. [with] This is under consideration.”
‘An important step forward’
Mr Rowlands was also questioned about why Conservative Senedd leader Andrew R. T. Davies had not expelled Mr Jones from the Conservative group despite removing him from the shadow cabinet.
“Abolishing that role in the shadow cabinet is a really important step,” he said.
Asked whether the decision would undermine Mr Davies’s position in questioning Chancellor Vaughan Gething’s integrity and judgment, Mr Rowlands said: “Andrew R T Davies’ integrity and judgment are crucial in this matter and I am confident that as details emerge he will consider them and take action where absolutely necessary.”
A lawyer representing Jones said in a statement that “she has not received any formal bullying complaints against any member of staff.”
She added that she was “confident that any allegations of misconduct surrounding expenses are entirely misconceptions.”
“Mr Jones believes these complaints submitted to the Standards Commissioner are without merit.”
“As these matters are still under investigation, it would be inappropriate for Mr Jones to comment further.”
“Mr Jones has no problem with the BBC or its sources raising these allegations with the police or the Standards Commissioner. If requested by the authorities, Mr Jones will have the opportunity to respond formally as part of their investigation.”
“The issues surrounding Craig have been addressed at the doorstep,” Mr Rowlands said.
“But many more people are interested in the government’s track record here in Wales.”
Mr Williams, who served as an aide to the First Minister in the previous Parliament and is standing for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, has previously admitted it was a “huge error of judgement”.
