Reform branch added ‘laughing’ emoji to post about journalist’s cancer-stricken child

Nation.Cymru staff

An official Reform UK branch social media account has reacted with a “laughing” emoji to a post about a journalist’s daughter being diagnosed with cancer.

The party said the incident was an “accident” and apologised “unreservedly” for the offence and distress caused.

Nation.Cymru’s news editor Emily Price had announced at the weekend that after taking a break from social media to support her daughter through cancer treatment, she had launched a new Facebook page to document her work covering Welsh politics.

In a post to Facebook, Price wrote: “After my daughter was diagnosed with the fastest spreading human cancer in November, I deleted my X account and took a break from social media.

“I’ve still be writing about Welsh politics for Nation.Cymru every week, but now that B is doing much better I feel like it’s a good time to launch a new Facebook page for readers to follow my work.

“If you like all things Welsh, particularly Senedd politics and current affairs (with a few photos of my travels around Wales’ stunning mountains thrown in) give me a follow.”

The post was shared by Nation.Cymru’s Facebook page where Reform UK’s official Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr branch added a “tears of joy” laughing reaction to it. 

In November, Price’s 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma – a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma widely recognised as the fastest-growing human cancer.

Tumours can double in size every 24-hours, crowding out organs quickly and leaving sufferers in intense pain.

Price’s daughter underwent major surgery to remove a 15cm tumour from her abdomen in December before starting an intense four month long chemotherapy regime over the Christmas period.

The toxicity of the drugs used during the treatment, which included chemotherapy injections directly into the spine, is expected to leave the 12-year-old with lifelong health problems.

Price and her family live within the Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency which is represented in the Senedd by two Reform UK politicians – David Hughes and Jason O’Connell.

Their branch is overseen by campaign coordinator Martin Roberts, who also works as a caseworker for Reform MS Jason O’Connell.

Roberts was the fourth placed candidate for Reform UK in Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr at the Senedd election but failed to win a seat.

During his campaign, Price reported how Roberts had been accused of misogyny after he suggested women should stay home with their babies while men “go out and provide”.

O’Connell also employs Torfaen councillor and Reform UK’s “Head of Wales” David Thomas as a senior advisor.

Earlier this month, Price reported how Thomas had stepped down as the Reform Senedd group’s chief of staff after only two months in the role.

Following publication of the story, Thomas joined the chat feed of a live podcast hosted by an associate of English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, where he made untrue claims about Price’s reporting in what appeared to be an attempt to inflame far-right hostility towards her.

The Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr Facebook page regularly publishes images of Senedd members Jason O’Connell and David Hughes, as well as Roberts and Thomas.

In recent days, the group has also shared images of them out campaigning with Llantwit Fardre by-election candidate Lyndon Evans.

It is unclear who reacted to the post about Price’s daughter with a laughing emoji, but after Nation.Cymru contacted Senedd Member Jason O’Connell for a comment, the reaction was removed.

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