AN MP who received a police caution for assaulting his wife will not be representing Plaid Cymru at Westminster.

Jonathan Edwards, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr was suspended by Plaid following his July 2020 arrest on suspicion of assault.

A split developed within the party last month when it was announced that he would be able to re-join the party.

Earlier this week, Emma Edwards, the MP's estranged wife, broke her silence late on Thursday and told the BBC that Plaid’s decision was sending out the message "that survivors of domestic abuse don’t matter".

She also revealed that a much shared statement, which had been issued on behalf of the then couple shortly after Edwards' arrest, had been prepared by his press officer and that she regretted signing it.

This afternoon, Jonathan Edwards has issued a statement announcing that he will not be joining Plaid Cymru's group in Westminster:

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.

“I wish to state at the outset that I have never made any public comments in relation to the event that led to my arrest or my marriage.

“My priority has always been my children and not my career. Suffice to say that my wife and I are nearing the end of a divorce process, and I will not be responding to any comments she chooses to make while I am a Member of Parliament and our children are young.

“I will say only this, that relationships can often be very complex. I take full responsibility for the action that led to my arrest and subsequent police caution. I will regret that day to the end of my life.

“The past two years have been a period of deep reflection in which I enrolled on a domestic violence awareness course which has helped me understand the impact my action had on others. The story of a relationship however does not begin and end with one isolated incident.

“Throughout this period I have complied fully with the party and their requirements. I have never made any public statements about my personal life or my concerns about how the party was dealing with my case.

“I know that some will disagree, but I feel that we are in a very dangerous environment when there is no space for anyone in the public sphere to speak honestly about mistakes they make, to be allowed to show genuine remorse and to try and build a better life.

“I am concerned that there has been no distinction in any of the discussions about the difference between an incident and a pattern of behaviour.

“Over the part 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.

“I am also concerned that in recent weeks senior politicians within the party have misused their positions of power by subjecting me to vindictive and vengeful coordinated political attacks.

“My politics has always been driven by the desire to build a fairer country for our communities and I hope that those in the party will continue with this work and restore a healthier politics.

“I adore my home communities of Carmarthenshire and without their support and that of the local party and my family and friends I don't think I would still be alive today. I am particularly grateful to my new partner Fflur, who has shown me what love is and what joys a healthy relationship can bring.

“The local party and I have fought many battles over the years and my thanks for their unwavering support could never be expressed in words. However, I can't ask them to march up a hill for me.

“I've given my whole adult life to serving the communities of Carmarthenshire. In my time of need, they stood by me. My priority must now be to rebuild my life as best as I can and serve the communities of Carmarthenshire for the remainder of this parliamentary term.

“I will not be making any other public statements at this time.”

In May, former Plaid leader Leanne Wood wrote in her column for The National that Mr Edwards should not be allowed back in the party if the party was "serious about stamping out misogyny and domestic abuse".

Current leader, Adam Price, responded to Wood's comments on the BBC's Politics Wales programme, in which he stated that party rules meant he couldn’t comment on a specific case. 

However, earlier, and after Edwards' statement was released on Facebook, Adam Price tweeted that he should resign immediately:

 

  • This article originally appeared on our sister site The National.