Tributes paid after politician falls ill with sepsis following vote count

FORMER UKIP leader in the Welsh Parliament Caroline Jones has died just days after standing in the Senedd election.

Ms Jones, 71, became seriously ill with severe sepsis on the night of the election count on May 8, after attending the results at Barry Leisure Centre earlier that day.

She was taken to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, where she died in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Her husband, Alun Williams, told BBC Wales she was a “fantastic woman” who was widely liked and respected across the Senedd.

“She couldn’t do enough for other people,” he said.

Ms Jones served as a Member of the Senedd for South Wales West from May 2016 to May 2021, and had been hoping to return to the Senedd as an independent candidate for the Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency.

She had initially been announced as a Reform UK candidate in another constituency but left the party in April, claiming it had ignored grassroots members.

Mr Williams, who works in the Senedd, said his wife’s illness last weekend had “come out of the blue”, despite having suffered pneumonia, sepsis and a hospital infection at Christmas.

He said she had been helping members of the public right up until the day before she was admitted to hospital, including assisting a homeless family who approached her late in the evening.

“She was helping people at 9pm the night before she went into hospital,” he said.

Mr Williams also recalled how she donated a salary increase to charity after becoming a Senedd commissioner – a role involved in overseeing the running of the Welsh Parliament.

“I’ve had people in the house at 1am asking Caroline for advice,” he said.

“It was like a calling for her, to help people.”

He added that Ms Jones was well respected among politicians from across the political spectrum.

“A lot of people from other parties all got on with her. People in the canteen were in tears when they found out she was in hospital again,” he said.

Ms Jones was born in Llwynypia Hospital in the Rhondda in 1955. She trained as a drama and PE teacher, later running cafés in Porthcawl and Bridgend.

She also spent more than seven years working as a prison officer at HMP Parc in Bridgend until 2005.

Ms Jones entered the Senedd in 2016 as one of the seven UKIP members elected to the then Welsh Assembly, making political history at the time.

During a period of infighting within UKIP, she became one of the party’s leaders in Cardiff Bay after successfully ousting former Conservative MP Neil Hamilton.

She later joined the Brexit Party and led the Independent Alliance for Reform until 2021, before becoming a volunteer regional manager for Reform.

Tributes have been paid following her death.

Llŷr Powell, Reform MS for Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, said on X: “I have known Caroline Jones for over 15 years and I am shocked and saddened by today’s news. My thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones at this difficult time.

“Gorffwys mewn hedd (rest in peace).”

Former Reform councillor Owain Clatworthy, now with Restore Britain, said Ms Jones had shown resilience through political and personal challenges.

“Caroline believed in the importance of democracy, free speech, and standing up for ordinary people,” he said.

FORMER First Minister Eluned Morgan, who failed to secure a seat in the 2026 Senedd elections in Ceredigion Penfro, has spoken of her “honour” to serve in the role.

In the May 7 battle for six seats in the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency, stretching from north of Aberystwyth to Angle in the southwest and Llanteg in the southeast, Plaid Cymru gained three seats, Reform two and Welsh Conservatives one.

The elections saw seismic political changes in Wales with Plaid in the majority and Labour losing heavily across the country, including Ceredigion Penfro where former First Minister Eluned Morgan or any other Labour candidates failed to secure a seat.

Since her loss, Eluned has said it was “the greatest honour of my life to serve as First Minister of Wales and to represent the people of Mid and West Wales in the Senedd”.

In a statement, she added: “Public service is never about one person. It is about the people and communities who place their trust in you, the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and the shared belief that Wales can always move forward together.

“I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey – my team, colleagues, campaigners, friends, my family and above all the people of Wales for giving me the privilege to serve.

“To the new Welsh Government, I send my very best wishes. Whatever our political differences, I believe we all want the same thing at heart: a fairer, stronger and more confident Wales.”

Fellow Labour candidate in the Ceredigion Penfro Senedd elections, also a Pembrokeshire county councillor for Narberth, Cllr Marc Tierney described Eluned as “a champion for causes that matter to so many of us — speaking up for those who could not, often without fanfare but with quiet, steady resolve”.

He added: “Both Welsh Labour and UK Labour will now need to take stock. Now is the time to consider, in depth, the significance of the losses suffered, and take genuine and measurable steps to regain the confidence of the public who have placed their trust in us so many times before.

“Eluned has said that she takes responsibility for the defeat. But I believe it is wrong for her to carry that burden alone. Others must examine their role, and the entire movement must work out — in a challenging but respectful way — what must change if we are to offer a real alternative to the politics of division that has featured so prominently of late.

“Welsh Labour and its membership must be brave. Our shared values must underpin the next chapter.”

Eluned Morgan has now been replaced as interim Senedd Labour leader by Ken Skates.

Reform UK leader denies wrongdoing as parliamentary watchdog examines undeclared payment

NIGEL FARAGE is facing a parliamentary standards investigation over a £5 million gift from a major Reform UK donor.

The Reform UK leader, who has been MP for Clacton since July 2024, was referred to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg after reports emerged that he had received a previously undeclared payment from Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor Christopher Harborne in 2024.

The investigation is understood to relate to the rules requiring MPs to register relevant financial interests, including certain benefits received in the 12 months before entering Parliament.

Mr Farage has strongly denied wrongdoing and has said the money was a personal, unconditional gift connected to his safety and security, not his political activity.

A Reform UK spokesman said: “Mr Farage’s office is in communication with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

“He has always been clear that this was a personal, unconditional gift and no rules were broken.

“We look forward to this being put to bed once and for all.”

Mr Harborne has previously been identified as a significant donor to Reform UK. Reports say the £5 million payment was made before Mr Farage announced he would stand in Clacton at the 2024 general election.

The opening of an investigation does not mean Mr Farage has been found to have breached parliamentary rules.

However, the case is politically sensitive because of the size of the payment and because of Mr Farage’s prominent role as leader of Reform UK.

If the commissioner ultimately finds there has been a breach, the matter could be dealt with by correction in less serious cases, or referred to the Commons Standards Committee in more serious circumstances.

In the most serious cases, MPs can face suspension from the House of Commons. A suspension of ten sitting days or more can trigger a recall petition, potentially leading to a by-election if enough constituents sign it.

Mr Farage has previously been subject to a standards rectification process over late declarations of financial interests. The latest inquiry comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over political donations and party funding, with Reform UK under growing attention as it seeks to build on recent electoral gains.

Mr Farage remains entitled to the presumption that no breach has occurred unless and until the parliamentary standards process reaches a conclusion.