Tory politician reprimanded for using Senedd resources for party politics

A Conservative politician has been officially reprimanded by the Welsh Parliament for using public resources for party political purposes.

Senedd members agreed without objection to censure Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders, following an investigation by the parliament's standards watchdog.

Finch-Saunders did not speak or seek to oppose the sanction, but had denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation. She was cleared of bullying.

Senedd members are subject to strict rules which prohibit the use of taxpayer-funded Senedd resources - including staff, office space and materials - for party political purposes.

However, the Senedd's Standards Commissioner, Douglas Bain, found that Finch-Saunders "repeatedly caused or permitted" a member of staff to carry out party political work in the constituency office during normal working hours.

Responding to his report, the Senedd's standards committee said Finch-Saunders had "failed to demonstrate the leadership expected of her".

First elected in 2011, Finch-Saunders is the Conservatives' lead candidate for the new Bangor Conwy Môn constituency at May's Senedd election.