From The Independent · · 2m
Reform boycotts Welsh Parliament over member's ban
Reform UK withdraws from Senedd proceedings after Joe Martin is banned for comments about white British demographic replacement.
In brief
Reform UK withdraws from Senedd proceedings after Joe Martin is banned for comments about white British demographic replacement. Reform UK boycotted Welsh Parliament proceedings after member Joe Martin was banned for comments about white British demographic replacement, which the presiding officer called…
Reform member banned from speaking
Joe Martin, Reform MS for Caerdydd Penarth, was banned from speaking in the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday after comments about white British demographic replacement were ruled discriminatory and offensive by presiding officer Huw Irranca-Davies.
Reform announces boycott in response
Helen Jenner, Reform leader in Wales, announced on Wednesday the party would boycott plenary sessions in a show of support for Martin, calling the ban an infringement on freedom of speech.
Jenner's statement on the boycott
Jenner said Reform would not attend plenary that day, stating: if you silence one of us, you silence us all. She argued members were being silenced and therefore their constituents' views were being silenced too.
“if you silence one of us, you silence us all”
What Martin said in the Senedd
Martin asked for a government statement on demographic replacement of white British people. He claimed mass immigration and differing birth rates mean white British people will be a minority by 2063 and said this had…
“in just 37 years' time, in 2063, we will be a minority in our own country”
Welsh minister's response
Welsh minister Heledd Fychan asked for a ruling on whether Martin's comments complied with Senedd rules. She rejected division and hate, saying the Senedd must represent everyone regardless of religion, sexuality or skin colour.
Presiding officer's ruling
Huw Irranca-Davies ruled Martin's comments unnecessarily provocative and deliberately offensive.He said while immigration policy could be raised legitimately, the focus on race and ethnicity was discriminatory and detracted from Senedd dignity.
“the focus of that contribution on race and ethnicity was clearly discriminatory, offensive, and detracted from the dignity of the Senedd”
Nigel Farage weighs in
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X that the ban was ridiculous and outrageous, questioning why only Reform was targeted in this way.
“It is ridiculous and outrageous that Reform's duly elected Member of the Senedd, Joe Martin, has been banned from speaking in the Welsh Parliament”
Reform's partial participation continues
While Reform members would not attend plenary proceedings on Wednesday, Jenner said they would still be present to vote, maintaining some parliamentary engagement despite the boycott.
The takeaway
Reform UK boycotted Welsh Parliament proceedings after member Joe Martin was banned for comments about white British demographic replacement, which the presiding officer called discriminatory and offensive.
