Reform MS banned from Senedd after claiming white people being replaced

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 11 Nov, 18:02 · Archive

Joe Martin, Reform's sole Senedd member, was barred from speaking after claiming white people face demographic replacement.

Joe Martin, Reform's sole Senedd member for Caerdydd Penarth, asked the Welsh government for a statement on Tuesday regarding the 'demographic replacement of white British people'. He told the chamber that 'the scale of change has been breathtaking', and said mass immigration and differing birth rates meant that within 37 years, in 2063, white people 'will be a minority in our own country'. He also claimed the change had already taken place in London, Birmingham, Leicester, Slough, Luton and Manchester.

Huw Irranca-Davies, the Senedd's Presiding Officer, immediately responded by describing Martin's comments as 'discriminatory' and 'offensive'. He stated that Martin will not be permitted to speak in the chamber until he offers an apology. Irranca-Davies said Martin had repeatedly pushed the boundaries of Senedd regulations.

This is not Martin's first reprimand. In September, he was warned after comments during a debate about pauses in treatment for trans patients breached Senedd rules. Earlier, remarks joking that Welsh students could not read prompted politicians from Plaid Cymru, Labour and the Green Party to walk out of the chamber.

Helen Jenner, the leader of Reform UK Wales, said on Wednesday she stood 'firmly' with Martin. In a statement on social media, Jenner said 'nobody elected to the Senedd should be silenced simply because others disagree with what they have to say'. She argued that freedom of speech is fundamental to democracy and means little if it applies only to opinions people agree with. She also stated the Senedd should not become a place where challenging views are shut down.

Rupert Lowe, leader of right-wing party Restore Britain, also backed Martin, saying on X that the Welsh Parliament should be 'shut down' if it was 'going to shut down legitimate debate around demographic security and immigration'. Martin's Caerdydd Penarth constituency includes some of Wales' most ethnically diverse communities.

How it is being reported

• Reform UK Wales leader 'stands with' MS who said white people are being replacedThe leader of Reform UK Wales says she "stands firmly" by a colleague who was banned from speaking in the Senedd after claiming white people are being "replaced" in the UK.North Wales Chronicle · 11 Nov, 13:12
• Reform UK Wales leader 'stands with' MS who said white people are being replacedThe leader of Reform UK Wales says she "stands firmly" by a colleague who was banned from speaking in the Senedd after claiming white people are being "replaced" in the UK.North Wales Pioneer · 11 Nov, 13:12
• Reform Wales leader backs politician who said white people are being replacedHelen Jenner says Senedd members should not be silenced after Joe Martin was banned from speaking.BBC North West Wales · 11 Nov, 11:47
• Reform MS receives Senedd ban after claiming white people are being replacedHuw Irranca-Davies, the Senedd's presiding officer, later told the chamber Joe Martin's comments were discriminatory' and 'offensive'North Wales Live · 11 Nov, 08:21

In this story: Joe Martin · Huw Irranca-Davies · Helen Jenner · Reform UK Wales · Welsh Parliament · Caerdydd Penarth

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log