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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Steph Brawn

Senedd members storm out as Reform 'joke' about Welsh kids' reading

Reform's Joe Martin claimed Welsh students 'couldn't read' (Image: Senedd)

WELSH politicians in the Senedd staged a walk out after a Reform MS claimed Welsh students "couldn't read" and Indian nurses were taking Welsh jobs.

Members from Plaid Cymru, Labour and the Greens all stormed out after Martin made the claims in a speech in the chamber on Wednesday.

It was the second day running he had angered members in rival parties, after Plaid had accused him of "racism" over a speech on Tuesday when he claimed attacks on Sudanese asylum seekers were "inevitable".

Reform now have 34 seats in the Senedd following May's election.

In his Wednesday speech, Martin mocked a list of examples of international spending.

He said: "We send Uganda money to plant trees as well, because we won that competition, who can find the stupidest use of taxpayers' money."

He then joked the same question was asked to "some Welsh students who had been through our underfunded education system, but we didn't get a reply because we emailed them and they couldn't read".

Martin added it was great that nurses were being recruited from India "because it means that the Welsh people who would have otherwise become nurses can instead go on Universal Credit".

Eventually, Plaid's Caerdydd Fynnon Taf MS Zaynub Akbar said: "I'm going to leave because I don't accept any of this and I don't want to be a part of this. I'll be leaving the chamber."

She was followed out of the room by several other Plaid politicians as well as Mike Hedges from Labour and Welsh Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter.

Plaid Cymru's spokesperson said the party "will not stand by as Reform UK make a mockery of our democracy and mock the communities we represent".

Presiding Officer Huw Irranca-Davies rebuked Martin for his speech after asking MSs at the start of the session to avoid language that has "the potential to inflame debate or to increase tensions".

Irranca-Davies did reprimand him said to Martin: "I would like you to reflect, please, on the remarks and your contribution today. It was not in line with my expectations."

Slaughter said after the debate that Martin had been "completely disregarding the Llwywdd's opening statement today, showing a complete lack of respect for the Senedd and other members".

Reform had called for an end to all Welsh Government spending overseas in the debate, which was rejected by Plaid and Labour.

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