"Getty Images A racist slur used by a Reform politician has "caused a lot of hurt", members of the Chinese community in Wales have said. Laura Anne Jones, the party's only Welsh Parliament member, returns to the Senedd chamber on Wednesday after she was banned for two weeks for using a racial slur to describe Chinese people in a WhatsApp chat in August 2023."
"Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called it a "pretty minor offence". "Compared to what happens in public life and the mistakes that people make in their everyday lives what she's done is a pretty minor offence. Now she's been quite harshly punished for it," he said. "She used a word that colloquially probably was meant in a nice way 20 years ago." He added that Jones had "absolutely made a mistake"."
"After being hit with the punishment, Jones apologised for what she called "regrettable comments" in a "private message". Speaking on 19 November, Jones said she and her staff had completed Senedd respect and conduct training and she had "actively been in contact and helped the community that is being referred to". She added: "I have reflected deeply on this and I wholly accept the need to take greater care with my language at all times.""
Laura Anne Jones used a racial slur to describe Chinese people in a WhatsApp chat in August 2023. The Welsh Parliament banned Jones from the Senedd chamber for two weeks, docked her pay and barred her from proceedings. The Chinese in Wales Association said the term carried deeply hurtful and racist connotations and welcomed the disciplinary action. Jones apologised, described her comments as regrettable, and said she and her staff completed Senedd respect and conduct training while engaging with the affected community. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the offence minor and criticised the severity of the punishment.
Read at www.bbc.com
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