Tory politician used Senedd resources for party politics, says watchdog

A Conservative Member of the Senedd (MS) used public resources for party political purposes, the parliament's standards watchdog has found.

However, Janet Finch-Saunders was cleared of bullying.

The Senedd will debate and vote on a recommendation to reprimand the Aberconwy MS next week.

Finch-Saunders declined to comment ahead of that debate, but throughout the standards commissioner's investigation she denied any wrongdoing.

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.

According to Bain's investigation, a total of 52 emails of a party political nature were sent between Janet Finch-Saunders and the member of staff between 1 November 2024 and 1 August 2025.

All of these emails, which discussed matters such as the design and printing of Welsh Conservative leaflets for the party's stall at the Anglesey show, were processed by the staff member in the constituency office using Senedd equipment.

The investigation also found that the office was used to store party materials, and one aide staffed the Conservatives' Anglesey show stall during hours they were being paid to work for the Senedd.

In her evidence to the commissioner, Finch-Saunders said that until 23 June 2025 she was unaware of the improper use of Senedd resources.

On that date she sent an email to the member of staff reprimanding them and telling them "that there must be no repetition".

However, the commissioner found emails of a party political nature were sent between the MS and her support staff in the days before and after this date.

Bain said he was "satisfied" that Finch-Saunders knew about the party political work being undertaken before she told off her aide, and said he could not discount the staff member's explanation that the reprimanding email was sent as part of a process of "protecting her own self-interest" in the event of an investigation such as this.

The commissioner added that Finch-Saunders' answers "were on occasion, inconsistent" and her repeated denials of ever having misused Senedd resources were "manifestly untrue".

The commissioner took evidence from three people who worked for Finch-Saunders during this period and had all resigned.

One of them told the commissioner they had resigned because Finch-Saunders was "difficult" and "rude" and that her management style was "horrendous".

Bain said it was clear from the evidence that Finch-Saunders "expected high standards from her staff and made numerous demands of their time".

"By her own admission she was 'direct'," he added.

However, he was "not satisfied that the member's conduct amounted to bullying", he said.

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

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

"It is incumbent upon us as elected representatives to understand the distinction between party political activity and the discharge of our duties as members," the committee said.

"This is especially pertinent in the context of the upcoming election – a time of heightened political sensitivity."

The committee has recommended that the MS be "censured" - given an official reprimand by the Senedd.

A debate and vote on that is due to take place next Wednesday.