Reform MS raises fears for women’s safety after Black man approaches his car
Emily Price
A Reform Member of the Senedd has raised concerns about the safety of women in Birmingham after a Black man he assumed to be homeless approached his car and asked him for money.
Caerdydd Penarth MS Joe Martin travelled to Birmingham last week for Reform UK’s annual national conference.
He claimed that while stopped at traffic lights an ethnic minority man asked him for cash.
Mr Martin said he refused to give him money, adding that the man remained by his window for around 30 seconds before walking away and approaching another driver.
“I looked straight ahead and avoided eye contact because I didn’t fancy featuring on the news that night,” the Reform UK MS said.
Mr Martin then took a photograph of the man as he walked away and shared it on Facebook alongside a post in which he said he “felt bad” for him, describing the man as being from “sub-Saharan Africa” and “homeless in a foreign land”.
He also claimed the man could not “speak the language”, although it’s unclear how the man was able to ask Mr Martin for money if he couldn’t speak English.
It is also unclear from Mr Martin’s account how he established the man’s background, immigration status or homelessness during the short exchange.
In his Facebook post, the Reform politician raised concerns for the safety of women in the area saying he had “seen clips of young women being harassed by foreign men preying on them outside nightclubs”.
“I’d be absolutely terrified,” Mr Martin added.
The Caerdydd Penarth MS has been a highly controversial figure since taking office in May, particularly over his outspoken views on immigration.
His comments on the issue have repeatedly sparked fierce criticism, including a walkout from the Senedd by members of rival political parties.
His remarks about the man in Birmingham come as Reform UK faces severe criticism after videos emerged from its annual conference showing audience members violently attacking female protesters.
During Nigel Farage’s keynote speech at the National Exhibition Centre two young female activists from the group Climate Resistance staged a disruption.
Viral footage widely circulated on social media showed one of the women being dragged to the ground, having her hair pulled, and being grabbed by the face and struck over the head with a walking stick by an older male Reform supporter.
Party Chairman Lee Anderson has faced an intense backlash after joking that there should be a “whip-round” to buy a new stick for the man who struck the young woman.
Treasury Spokesperson Robert Jenrick dismissed the violence telling the protesters to “get a life” and responding “boohoo” to the difficult to watch footage.
Nigel Farage also refused to condemn the violence, arguing that he too had faced attacks, including having a milkshake thrown at him.
West Midlands Police have since said it has opened an investigation into five alleged assaults at Reform UK’s conference.
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The actual women beaters at his hate rally were white.
Not sure it does anyone any favours to be dismissive of women’s safety. Rape and sexual assault against women and girls has gone through the roof in the last couple of decades. The ONS stats are shocking.
Yet he is suggesting that they are more at risk by those who hail from sub Saharan Africa .
The reality is they are more at risk by those flying in perfectly legitimately from China as visitors who have easier access.
This guy one of two Chinese serial rapists jailed for life last year
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj06z37p0mlo
Yet another example of a Reform UK politician voluntarily handing the media a free pass to reveal and publish the facts behind some of their wild allegations and claims, further helping Reform UK’s slide down the polls (recently overtaken by the Conservatives in one).
Long may it continue.
Load of white men and women beating a woman up at a reform conference is Ok though?
Got it. He has been sent out to deflect. And rather than ask why the UK has people begging, he thinks not white automatically means abuser.
“I didn’t fancy featuring on the news that night,” the Reform UK MS said.
There’s not one of these Reform ghouls that wouldn’t sell their granny to get on the news.
Photo of random man + tall story = thing that never happened. Standard Reform UK tactics.
Probably scared of his own shadow. That’s quite dark.
I don’t believe a word this clown says. Any thing sprwing out of a Reform politician’s mouth is always lies.
They are incapable of telling the truth.
‘This invented account totally justifies my irrational fear of black people.’ Melt.
This guy’s quite a sad figure really, isn’t he? Spouting any old nonsense to get in the spotlight and thinking he’s some kind of truth-seeking hero. But probably these amateurish attempts at rabble-rousing are the most he’ll ever achieve in life, before disappearing back into obscurity as a bitter, friendless has-been. What a waste of a life.
There We Are Then.
Completely Useless not trustworthy.
So Caerdydd Penarth MS Joe Martin claimed that horrid homeless Black man posed a threat and that he feared for women’s safety. Presumably he was unaware that female protesters were gang assaulted live on TV at their party conference? What a moron. I hope ones responsible for attacking those exercising their right to protest are named, shamed, and convicted.
There we go, racists try to attack a hotel in Portsmouth where U19 Pakistan cricket team are staying, mistaking them for people seeking sanctuary. Not white, broad brush of racist hate used.
I feel far safer with refugees in my area than Reform supporters.
Is this his latest made up experience to seek attention. I still cannot get my head around the fact that we pay this clown a huge salary.
It’s concerning that there are people out there who actually think this is the type of person to pick for a political role.
He’s one very scary and messed up individual.
The best thing to do with this clown is not to give him any publicity.