Former MS denies involvement in vandalism of Cardiff MPs office
Emily Price
A former member of the Senedd has denied any involvement in the vandalism of a Cardiff MP’s office by pro Palestine protesters.
Jo Stevens’ office on Albany Road was sprayed with red graffiti and covered in messages branding the MP a “murderer” and accusing her of having “blood” on her hands after she abstained on a vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Talking to BBC Radio Wales Ms Stevens said: “Unlike those involved in this so called ‘vigil’ I don’t require them to agree with my view on how an urgent cessation of violence in Gaza and Israel can best be practically achieved to urgently alleviate innocent civilian suffering.
“I unequivocally support the right to protest. But this goes way beyond that. This is criminal damage. It is intimidation and incitement.
“This is a workplace and my staff team and I, as well as my constituents who come to my office everyday for help, should be able to do so in safety.”
Vote
56 MPs defied Labour leader Keir Starmer by voting in support of the amendment tabled by the SNP rather than abstaining..
Cynon Valley MP Beth Winter was the only Welsh Labour MP to vote in support of a ceasefire.
Ms Stevens told the BBC she “found it particularly surprising” that former Plaid Cymru MS, Bethan Sayed had attended a “vigil” outside her office on Thursday evening (November 16).
She said: “I would have thought at the very least, that this individual would have had some understanding of the effect that this will have on my team.”
Ms Sayed told Nation.Cymru she had attended part of the vigil and saw post-it notes placed on the Labour MP’s office but denied being present when the building was covered in red paint.
She said: “I was not on all of the vigil as I was working late and then had to pick up my son. I have attended all the vigils and have participated in a peaceful manner.
“What I saw were people putting post-it-notes on the door of her office to represent all the children who have been killed by Israeli forces in Palestine.”
Ms Sayed posted several photos on Thursday evening of protesters marching through Roath in Cardiff.
She also posted a video showing the messages left on the office’s windows bearing the names of children who have died in the Gaza Strip as a result of the ongoing conflict.
Ms Sayed said: “People have been trying to contact Jo Stevens to discuss this matter with her and to engage in debate about why she did not support a ceasefire, but are not able to arrange to do so via her surgery or office structures.
“People want to be able to engage and understand why she is not supporting a ceasefire in Gaza when so many people, including thousands of children, are being killed.
“If the MP has any understanding of the effect that her opposition to a ceasefire has on Palestinians, and that with 76% of people in the UK supporting a ceasefire according to a poll, she will wish to reflect on her actions and meet with constituents to explain her stance. This issue is not about my attendance. That is a deflection on the real issue here.
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Oh no! The HUMANITY! Some red ink and post it notes on your workplace office?
Clearly Jo Stevens is the victim here, not the 12000 Palestinian dead she has let down.
We should be CIVIL when dealing with genocide enablers. Wouldn’t want to hurt their feelings.
My question is, why not the same treatment for all the OTHER MPs in Wales and that bit over on the far right of the island?
Cry me a River Jo.
Let me get out the world’s smallest violin. Stop supporting a genocidal apartheid state, Jo.
Not withstanding the injustices and cruelty of GAZA what on earth is the point of trashing a local M.P’s premises? I don’t agree with much of anything Ms Stevens ever comes out with but the sheer vandalism of bloody minded so called militants just serves no purpose at all. If they feel that militant why don’t they go and take up arms against Israel or might that be too much like the real world for these fantasists.
Are post it notes really “trashing the place” though? What about the much harder to remove Yes Cymru stickers?
Take up arms against Israel?! Who would they join? Hamas? The prevailing opinion is that people want ceasefire. Taking up arms would be rather contrary to their cause no? This is clearly a cathartic act by desperate people who feel powerless and without options, letting decision-makers know what they think of their decisions. Was it a smart thing to do? No. I expect the vandals felt good while doing it though, and that is when society becomes dangerous. When people who are already suffering and discounted and ignored by their representatives start to feel like they don’t have anything to… Read more »
Jo Stevens is sticking to her principles and will be rewarded with becoming the next Governor General of the Principality.
Maybe she will. That’s the regime we are stuck with until enough supine feeble Welshie Uncle Dais and Janes get a new backbone and secure liberty from the London-centred colonists. No point whining about her or any of the other near useless M.P’s from Wales unless you get out there and agitate for change, and the only change that stands a chance of being beneficial is total secession.