Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Jonathan Edwards says Adam Price’s handling of his ousting from Plaid Cymru was ‘spiteful’

02 Sep 2022 4 minute read
Adam Price and Jonathan Edwards. Pictures by Plaid Cymru

Former Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards has accused leader Adam Price of handling his ousting from the party in a “spiteful” way.

The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP announced last month that he wouldn’t be rejoining Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Group, two years after being caution by police for an assault on his wife.

Party leader Adam Price, who represents the same constituency at the Senedd, put a statement the same day saying that Jonathan Edwards’ actions “do not represent our values and his position as an MP sends the wrong message out to domestic abuse survivors”.

In a letter to Plaid Cymru organisers in the constituency, Jonathan Edwards asked them to question party bosses on the way his ousting had been handled.

“Why did the leader release his spiteful statement immediately after I stated that I did not want to re-join the party’s Westminster group, even though there was an agreement that a personal statement from me would offer an honourable path?” he asked.

Adam Price’s statement was published on social media some 15 minutes after Jonathan Edwards’s announcement on Facebook, but it was not clear if one was in reaction to another.

‘Listened to’

Both statements last month were released after Plaid Cymru said that they were “considering carefully” the implications of comments by Jonathan Edwards’ wife.

Emma Edwards had told BBC Wales that she was “appalled and disappointed” that Plaid Cymru has reinstated Jonathan Edwards as an MP for the party.

Plaid Cymru’s National Executive Committee had recommended not to re-admit the MP but said that they had since taken “further procedural advice” and restored the whip to him.

In an article for Nation.Cymru Plaid Cymru’s Communications Director Siân Gwenllian MS said that the issue was that the party’s disciplinary procedures did not sufficiently differentiate between ordinary members and members who had been elected to positions of influence, and so Jonathan Edwards could automatically resume his title of Plaid MP.

But in a further statement released after Emma Edwards’ comments, Plaid Cymru hinted that they were looking again at the matter.

“Plaid Cymru believes the voice of victims of domestic violence must be listened to, and the party is considering carefully the implications of the public statement made by Emma Edwards and what action may need to be taken as a result of her statement,” they said.

‘Urgency’

Jonathan Edwards then put out a statement to say “it is with deep regret that I announce that I will not be re-joining the Plaid Cymru Westminster group to allow a period of calm reflection”.

He also added that “over the past two years there have been periods when I have felt suicidal as my personal and professional life crumbled and I was offered no safeguarding by the party”.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price soon after put out a statement to say: “My firm belief is that Jonathan Edwards cannot continue to represent Plaid Cymru in Westminster. He should resign immediately.”

He added: “I also call on Jonathan Edwards to leave the party. His actions do not represent our values and his position as an MP sends the wrong message out to domestic abuse survivors in Wales and beyond.

“I would like to thank Emma Edwards for speaking out yesterday and for her to know that her voice has been heard. I would also like to offer my apology to her and all domestic abuse survivors for the pain this has caused.

“Our disciplinary processes must change to give victims of gender-based violence a central role in any enquiries. This work will begin immediately and will be given the urgency and gravity it clearly deserves.”


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
10 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
NOT Grayham Jones
NOT Grayham Jones
1 year ago

Personally i would not call it “spiteful” i would say it was Adam Price just protecting his own back because the only thing that matters to AP is AP. This story has got legs im sure as Edwards probably has a lot of dirt on AP which will be terrifying AP

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago

You may not be ‘Grayham Jones’ but are you Jonathan Edwards? 🤔 Hard to think who else might post vindictive codswallop like that 😡

Last edited 1 year ago by Leigh Richards
NOT Grayham Jones
NOT Grayham Jones
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

mark my words why do you think the Plaid heirarchy have tried to protect Edwards for the past 2 yrs and wait until all the fuss died down before bringing him back. Someone high up is very very frightend of Edwards- we shall see if this is codswallop very soon!!!! Leigh

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago

If it wasn’t for likes of LSR and a handful of stalwart others Plaid would have finished its circling of the plughole and slipped down into oblivion. Major rebuild required around policies addressing real problems afflicting our communities and less flirting with ishoo driven activists flitting around in the Bay bubble.

Brian
Brian
1 year ago

Jonathan Edwards – grow up

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago

Is jonathan now on a personal mission to wreck plaid cymru? As if his conduct so far in this sorry matter hadnt been damaging enough to the party he sadly now seems intent upon fostering a damaging split in the constituency he shares with Adam Price with what appears to be a calculated and very public attempt to undermine the plaid leader. Extremely disappointed with Jonathan Edwards.

Last edited 1 year ago by Leigh Richards
Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

This wouldn’t be newsworthy if it wasn’t for Jonathan Edwards self-destructive tendencies. And instead of mud slinging should be responsible for his own actions by putting both Plaid Cymru & Wales interests first rather than his own.

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
1 year ago

Plaid have got a very low quality personall…..AP is a very poor leader, hence the low results under him & JE comes accross like a Brickie!!

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

What have you got against bricklayers ? Most brickies I know are better than the political class by a long distance.

arthur owen
1 year ago

I suspect one outcome of this will be one extra Labour member in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster and that will continue for a long time.

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.