It marks the most high-profile defection to Reform in Wales yet, and follows a string of councillors in Merthyr Tydfil who announced their own defections in June.

In response to Laura Anne Jones MS’ defection to Reform, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: “This is yet another desperate Tory defection who knows the writing is on the wall for their party’s prospects next May.

“Our national parliament is not a plaything for those who want to set Wales on a road to ruin.”

Former Conservative Laura Anne Jones MS said: “The Conservatives failed us when last in power, with letdown after letdown, and now Labour in Westminster are just like Labour in Wales, completely incompetent, with totally the wrong priorities and have become a joke that isn’t funny.

“Reform is the only party that now represents decent hard-working people, with traditional, patriotic values. People who love their country and are as devastated as I am at the erosion of our beautiful country and its values, faith and traditions, Wales and the UK are now turning to Reform.

“There is so much to undo and put right, and Reform is the only party able to stop Labour and Plaid getting into bed together once again and taking our beautiful country into decline again.

“I strongly believe that I’ve joined a Party today that recognises and shares my ambition for Wales, for our great country, to make the dragon roar once more. I can’t wait to get started, help steer things in the right direction, fight for my constituents and for my beloved Wales, and take people along with me. With Reform, I truly feel that I am now part of the solution, not the problem. Let’s Reform Cymru.”

The Reform UK leader says the Conservatives face wipe-out in Scotland and Wales in next year’s elections.

The defection means Reform has representation in the Welsh Senned for the first time, (although there have been UKIP members in the past).

Laura Anne Jones says the Conservative Party is “unrecognisable” from the party she joined three decades ago. “I truly believe that I have joined a party today in Reform UK that listens to the people of Britain.”

She says Wales, which is run by Labour, “is a complete mess … we can’t have this go on.”

Referring to Nigel Farage, she said: “And I truly believe that the Reform Party is the one, with this great man at the helm.”

Welsh Senned member Laura Anne Jones has switched from the Tories to Reform – and announced the defection live on air, telling her own party at the same time as she told the nation.

It’s the latest defection from the Conservatives. Others have included former Tory chair Sir Jake Berry and ex-Tory MP Lee Anderson.

Shadow Health Secretary Ed Argar has resigned from the Shadow Cabinet, saying he is stepping down following a “health scare” to focus on his recovery.

It comes as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch continues with her Shadow Cabinet reshuffle. It is not yet clear who will replace Mr Argar, who is due to ask questions in the Commons today.

Mrs Badenoch said: “As he prepares for his last parliamentary oral questions from the front bench, I want to put on record my sincere thanks to Ed Argar for serving in my Shadow Cabinet. I wish him the very best for a speedy recovery and return to full health, and so I will be making a few changes to my front bench later today.”

The construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk will cost around £38 billion, the Government has announced as it struck a deal with a group of investors.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has signed the final investment decision to give the development the green light, the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) said.

Conservative Home reports a Conservative source saying Kemi Badenoch’s reshuffle was originally “meant to be small” but could now involve some major changes.

The Reform Kent County Council leader has told Times Radio that police must feel able to “shoot people if necessary”.

Linda Kemkaran told Kate McCann on Times Radio Breakfast: “We must give our police force the proper backing to be able to do their job, to catch the criminals, to shoot people if necessary, if they feel that that person is going to present a real and present danger to either themselves and the police or to members of the public.”

They also said: “You know, look at the police that have been dragged through the courts simply for doing their job. I think it’s disgusting.”

They added: “I think what we need to do, if a police officer discharges their firearm because they genuinely think that either their life, their colleagues’ life or members of the public lives are about to be put in danger, that police officer should not be dragged through the courts and be held up like a criminal when they’re not.”

Israel could face further sanctions from the UK if it does not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, David Lammy has suggested.

The Foreign Secretary also told broadcasters he feels “appalled” and “sickened” by Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has begun a ground operation targeting Deir al-Balah, the main hub for humanitarian efforts in the enclave.

On Monday, Mr Lammy and his counterparts from 24 other nations including France, Canada and Australia urged Israel to lift restrictions on the flow of aid into Gaza in a joint statement.

Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride said: “Rachel Reeves is spending money she doesn’t have. Debt interest already costs taxpayers £100 billion a year – almost double the defence budget – and it’s forecast to rise to £130 billion on Labour’s watch.

“Labour’s Jobs Tax and reckless borrowing is killing growth and fuelling inflation – paving the way for more tax hikes and more borrowing in the Autumn. Make no mistake – working families will pay the price for Labour’s failure and costly u-turns.

“Only the Conservatives, under new leadership, will break this cycle. Only the Conservatives believe in sound money and low taxes.”

Government borrowing in the UK rose to a higher-than-expected £20.7 billion last month as debt interest payments soared, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said June borrowing was £6.6 billion higher than a year earlier and the second highest June borrowing since records began, only behind that seen in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

The ONS said interest payable on debt jumped to £16.4 billion.

David Lammy, the Labour foreign secretary, has told Times Radio that ‘taking the knee’ as a gesture against racism was a “moment in time” that has “probably passed”, after the Lionesses decided to drop the pre-match ritual.

Asked if he would take the knee anymore, David Lammy said:

“I think that was a moment in time after the murder of George Floyd. I think that moment has probably passed. I haven’t seen actually for some years people using that particular gesture.”

A senior Conservative source said:

‘The Leader of the Opposition will be making some changes to her front bench team today. The changes reflect the next stage of the Party’s policy renewal programme and underline the unity of the party under new leadership. Sir James Cleverly, is expected to return in a prominent front bench role to take the fight to this dreadful Labour Government.’

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is reshuffling her front bench today and has convinced former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who stood for the Conservative leadership last year, to accept a Shadow Cabinet job according to reports.

Nigel Farage said the UK’s retirement age will “inevitably” have to rise as life expectancy increases.

Asked at a press conference in Westminster whether he shared the concern that triple lock pensions are becoming “increasingly unaffordable”, the Reform UK leader said: “I share the concern with pensions being unaffordable on a national level, I also share the concern at the absolute scandal of the private pensions industry, which has served people terribly but done frightfully well for itself.

“We’re going to have to face the reality that if people are living longer and longer, then inevitably retirement age is going to have to rise.”

Reform UK will aim to halve crime in five years if the party gets into government, Nigel Farage announced yesterday, as he estimated a £17.4 billion bill to achieve it.

Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48 billion annual bill for the party’s plans on crime and justice.

Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: “Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen.

“We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons.

“If you’re a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,” he added.

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Nigel Farage is expected to make a series of visits to Wales in the run up to next year’s elections for the Welsh Assembly, where Reform hopes to do well and could even become the largest party.