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Reform Wales leader backs MS who said white people being replaced
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Reform leader in Wales, Helen Jenner, supports Senedd member Joe Martin, who was banned from speaking until he apologises for claiming white people are being "replaced" in the UK, emphasizing the importance of freedom of speech in democracy.
- Martin's remarks, reflecting a far-right conspiracy theory about demographic replacement, were challenged by Business Minister Heledd Fychan, leading to a presiding officer ruling that such language violates Senedd's standing orders.
- Presiding officer, Elin Jones, ruled Martin cannot speak in the chamber until he apologises during a plenary session and acknowledges the boundaries of acceptable parliamentary conduct.
- This is not Martin's first reprimand, as he was previously rebuked for offensive comments about NHS gender service surgeons in September.
- The incident has sparked debate over whether the Welsh Parliament should allow discussions on sensitive topics like demographic security and immigration without shutting down legitimate debate.
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