Text messages emerge in Tory expenses row

Texts from the telephone of a Conservative Senedd member, which seem to ask an worker to maximise the politician’s bills claims, have been seen by BBC Wales.

Laura Anne Jones is beneath investigation by police over allegations regarding her bills.

One message requested a workers member: “When doing petrol factor – at all times make greater than I did – add in stuff please okay”.

The context for the WhatsApp messages will not be evident. A solicitor on her behalf has mentioned: “Ms Jones is happy that any allegations in relation to impropriety surrounding bills are totally misconceived”.

Ms Jones, who’s Conservative shadow tradition minister, has beforehand mentioned she’s going to totally co-operate with “any investigation”.

She is at the moment being investigated by the Requirements Commissioner Douglas Bain and South Wales Police.

The police investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made.

The requirements commissioner, who’s chargeable for investigating complaints in opposition to MSs, had referred a grievance on to police, in keeping with the power.

The BBC has been instructed the unique grievance to Mr Bain was in relation to Ms Jones’s dealing with of allegations of bullying by a senior member of workers.

Claims about her bills emerged as a part of Mr Bain’s investigation.

It’s understood the requirements commissioner’s investigation is on maintain whereas the police inquiry is happening, and police have spoken to at the least one member of Conservative workers.

BBC Wales has seen messages despatched to a member of workers, who had requested whether or not they need to make bills claims for the politicians for days when Ms Jones was off sick.

There was no direct reply to that query. Nevertheless, a graph of proposed bills then gave the impression to be despatched to the telephone of Ms Jones.

A response from Ms Jones’s telephone mentioned: “When you may at all times do greater than it says, that’d be fab, thanks”. It was adopted by a thumbs up emoji.

One other message from the identical telephone mentioned: “When doing Petrol factor – at all times make greater than I did – add in stuff please okay”. It was adopted by a thumbs up and a folded arms emoji.

When the workers member asks “like visits to constituency workplace?”, a response says: “Sure – stuff like that [folded hands emoji].”

Mileage claims for Senedd members should be accepted by the member themselves.

The BBC can’t confirm whether or not the messages symbolize the entire conversations between the individuals concerned, nor their full context.

A lawyer on behalf of Ms Jones mentioned in a press release: “Ms Jones didn’t obtain any formal bullying grievance in relation to any of her workers members”.

They added that she “is happy that any allegations in relation to impropriety surrounding bills are totally misconceived”.

“Ms Jones’s perception is that these complaints being lodged with the requirements commissioner are with out basis.

“As these issues are the topic of ongoing inquiries, it might be inappropriate for Ms Jones to make any additional remark.

“Ms Jones has no problem with the BBC or its sources placing these allegations to the police and/or the requirements commissioner, which is able to present her the chance to reply in a proper method as a part of the inquiry ought to the authorities require it.”