Plaid defector faces torrent of misogynistic abuse from Reform-supporting men
Emily Price
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd has faced a torrent of vile and misogynistic online abuse from Reform UK-supporting men following her defection to Plaid Cymru.
The Member of the Senedd for Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg revealed she had joined Rhun ap Iorwerth’s governing party in a shock announcement last week.
It sparked calls for the 31-year-old care leaver to resign her Senedd seat because she had won it at the May 7 Welsh election under Reform UK’s banner.
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice accused Cooper-Lesadd of lying to Nigel Farage’s party about her political beliefs in order to get selected.
Like many Reform UK politicians, Cooper-Lesadd was a former Conservative.
She was widely considered as one of the Reform Senedd group’s more serious MSs when she won her seat in the Senedd in the spring.
Backed by her Cambridge education and a powerful backstory, she entered politics with a mission to advocate for care-experienced youngsters in a bid to improve their lives.
Explaining her reasons for defecting to Plaid, Cooper-Lesadd warned that Reform UK had “no interest in Wales” and was “far more interested in division, opposition and headlines than in finding solutions.”
The Plaid Cymru newcomer posted a video message to the people of Pen Y Bont Bro Morganwg on Monday evening (September 21) saying that despite calls for her resignation, she would continue to stand up for to her constituents.
However, the video received a wave of abuse from Reform UK supporters, particularly men, some of whom mocked her physical appearance and the sound of her voice.
Many comments went much further than just criticising Cooper-Lesadd for her jump from the right to the left of the political spectrum.
On Facebook, Lee Hockey labelled her a “space cadet”, while Reform supporter Josh Fitzgerald left a comment saying: “She clearly isn’t all there… you can hear it in her voice lol.”
Michael Dowland wrote: “Get a proper job.”
Jerry Williams left a comment branding Cooper-Lesadd a “political prostitute”, while Gwilym Morgan-Jones called her an “attention seeker”.
Bridgend DJ Danny Jay wrote: “Fuck off. Resign”, while another man said the Plaid MS was no longer welcome in Bridgend.
Porthcawl musician Gareth Lewis left a comment describing the MS as a “piece of shit”.
Matthew Williams left a comment on Cooper-Lesadd’s video asking: “Is this fucker retarded?”, while Ian Sturdy branded the MS “scum”.
Eilian Willaims, a commenter who appeared to be in his 60s, wrote: “What a joke you’ve turned out to be, you wouldn’t know which way your knickers should fit you silly little girl.”
Other male commentators slammed Cooper-Lesadd as a “disgrace”, a “traitor” and a “two faced liar”.
Over on X, one commentator said: “Hang your head in shame you devious bitch”.
Another Reform UK supporter on Elon Musk’s platform branded Cooper-Lesadd a “political whore”, while another left a comment calling for her resignation and calling her a “vile treacherous cnut [sic]”.
Another commentator posted a comment saying the MS looked like a “reanimated cadaver”.
Sarah Cooper-Lesadd said: “I want to thank everyone who has sent messages of support this week.
“Robust disagreement is part of politics, but personal abuse is not, and it is driving good people, particularly women, away from public life.
“All of us in leadership positions have a responsibility for the tone of our politics.
“For my part, I’ll keep getting on with serving the people of Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg.”
The Senedd Commission uses a dedicated Security Intelligence Service via cybersecurity firms like Pulsar to proactively monitor social media platforms.
If potential threats, severe abuse, or behaviour constituting criminal activity targeting an MS are identified, the team gathers the evidence and reports it directly to the police on the member’s behalf.
Last week, the Electoral Commission released troubling details of new research that explored public attitudes to abuse and intimidation aimed at candidates standing for election.
The independent body concluded that candidate abuse was “a serious issue” and part of a “wider societal problem” of increasing hostility and abusive behaviour online.
Many participants in the study believed women would be more likely to feel physically intimidated and highlighted concerns about wider issues of misogyny and violence against women.
Last year, Nation.Cymru published a report which saw female political figures in Wales describe the misogyny and harassment they were facing – with some warning that intimidation was discouraging women from taking up a career in politics.
In exclusive discussions with Nation.Cymru, the women of Wales’ parliament relayed harrowing experiences of online toxicity – including death threats, rape threats and insults about their physical appearance.
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I demand that Helen Jenner should condemn and apologise for the abhorent misogynistic behaviour of these deformed men. Helen wants to safeguard women and girls. Well she should start now or resign.
I wouldn’t hold my breath, Amir.
Why am I not surprised by this revelation? I was right in a previous post: Reform is not only a threat to Welsh democracy; our women are at risk too.
“Bridgend DJ Danny Jay wrote: “F*** off. Resign”.
Porthcawl musician Gareth Lewis left a comment describing the MS as a “piece of sh*t”…..south Wales music and entertainment venues please take note!
“Protect our women and girls”
Or as dunces on the extreme right put it ‘Protect are women and girls’
Racism never travels alone. Those men think that that’s a normal and acceptable way to treat women.
Unfortunately the victim mindset often leads to worse actions.
Their wives and girlfriends must breathe a sigh of relief when their “men” go out on a protest to break stuff and get drunk and shouty.
Anyone in any doubt as to what scumbags operate in, and support reform, should look no further than this article. Every reform voter I’ve met is either very thick or in it for the money
Absolute vile pile on resulting from their own mismangement of selection.
The party that purports to safeguard women.
That responsibiity was gifted to a teenage Cllr in Kent
His first pick in her patch was Corey Edwards
The lad with the Nazi salutes and the video of himself drinking alcohol and driving
She stepped up to fill the void’
Supect that having a pulse ,being a former Tory and a fat cheque was sufficent for her to be chosen ,
Now they are baulking at the consequences
The message from these lowlifes appears to be that, as a woman, she should know her place.
Good to hear that she’ll be continuing to represent her constituents. Chin up!
Reform in a nutshell. Look at the pictures.
https://www.birmingham-now.co.uk/news/26571927.man-given-conditional-caution-reform-uk-assault/
Are we really surprised, isn’t this exactly what we have come to expect from Reform and their fanboys?
At the time of writing more than three in every four voters (77%) are preparing to vote for anyone but Reform. Nearly three in five (57%) intend to reject both them and the Conservative Party.
I guess that means we all belong to a ‘liberal establishment elite’ conspiring to gang up against the right, though my membership remains pending due to an administrative screw-up.