Key Takeaways
- Laura Anne Jones, a Reform UK politician, used a racist slur to describe Chinese people in a WhatsApp chat, causing hurt and offense to the Chinese community in Wales.
- Jones was banned from the Senedd chamber for two weeks and had her pay docked as a result of her actions.
- The Chinese in Wales Association (CIWA) welcomed the action taken by the Senedd, but expressed disappointment and hurt over Jones’s use of racist language.
- CIWA and other community members emphasized the need for education and understanding about the impact of racist language and the importance of taking racism seriously, especially in positions of public trust.
- The incident has sparked a conversation about racism, language, and cultural sensitivity in Wales and the need for politicians to be mindful of their words and actions.
Introduction to the Incident
Laura Anne Jones, a Reform UK politician and the party’s only Welsh Parliament member, has been at the center of a controversy over her use of a racist slur to describe Chinese people in a WhatsApp chat. The incident occurred in August 2023, and Jones was subsequently banned from the Senedd chamber for two weeks and had her pay docked. The Chinese in Wales Association (CIWA) welcomed the action taken by the Senedd, but expressed disappointment and hurt over Jones’s use of racist language.
Reaction from the Chinese Community
The Chinese community in Wales has been deeply hurt by Jones’s use of the racist slur, with many members feeling that the term carries "deeply hurtful and racist connotations." Shirley Au-Yeung, founder and CEO of CIWA, said that the word is sometimes used without people fully understanding its impact, but public figures should be especially mindful of the harm such language can cause. Foo Seng, advocacy lead at CIWA, added that using the word sends a message that it is okay to use it to talk about the Chinese community, which is demeaning and encourages people to ignore the struggles and discrimination faced by the community.
Context and History
The context of the incident is important, as it highlights the complex and sensitive nature of language and cultural identity. Yan Wu, a professor in media communications at Swansea University, has been studying Chinese immigration in Europe since 2005 and notes that Chinese immigration to the UK has gone through three phases since the end of World War Two. The number of residents in Wales identifying as Chinese in 2021 was 14,000, according to census data, and many ethnically Chinese people born in Wales have shared that their Welsh identity can feel questioned at times because of how they look.
Response from Reform UK Leader
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has downplayed the incident, calling it a "pretty minor offence" and suggesting that Jones used the word colloquially and without malice. However, this response has been criticized by CIWA and other community members, who emphasize that the impact of racist language cannot be dismissed or minimized. Angela Hui, author of Takeaway: Stories From Behind the Counter, notes that using language such as this "teaches people that it’s fair game to use that word and to mock" and encourages people to ignore the struggles and discrimination faced by the community.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The incident has sparked a conversation about racism, language, and cultural sensitivity in Wales, and the need for politicians to be mindful of their words and actions. CIWA has welcomed an invitation from the Senedd to engage in a conversation over this incident and related issues, and hopes that this will serve as a catalyst for deeper reflection within political parties and the Senedd on the cultures, norms, and practices that allow racist language to surface. The organization emphasizes the need for education and understanding about the impact of racist language and the importance of taking racism seriously, especially in positions of public trust.
