n MP who was suspended by Checkered Cymru after a police warning for assaulting his wife, he has said he won’t be at the party now Westminster just two days after he recovered the whip.
Jonathan Edwardsthe MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, had been suspended since July 2020. On Thursday, the party said he was re-admitted to the Westminster group.
But after his wife, Emma Edwards, denounced the move – which a “significant majority” of the party leadership opposed – Mr Edwards said he would not re-join to allow for a “period of calm reflection”. to make.
Separately, party leader Adam Price called on him to step down from MP and promised a review of the party’s disciplinary procedures as a matter of “urgentness”.
“As stated, I firmly believe that Jonathan Edwards cannot continue to represent Plaid Cymru at Westminster and must resign immediately,” Price said in a statement on Twitter.
“I also call on Jonathan Edwards to leave the party. His actions do not represent our values and his position as an MP sends the wrong message to survivors of domestic violence in Wales and further.”
In a statement about his facebook Page, Mr Edwards described the attack that led to his suspension as an “isolated incident” and said he subsequently enrolled in a domestic violence awareness course.
He expressed concern that there was no room in public life for those who had made mistakes to show “sincere remorse” and criticized his treatment by some in the party.
“In the second half of the two years, there were periods when I felt suicidal as my personal and professional life collapsed and I did not receive any protection from the party,” he said.
“I am also concerned that in recent weeks leading politicians within the party have abused their position of power by subjecting me to vengeful and vengeful coordinated political attacks.”