Jonathan Edwards: Assaulted wife appalled by MP's return to Plaid

A woman assaulted by her politician husband says she is "appalled and disappointed" that Plaid Cymru has reinstated him as an MP for the party.

The party returned the whip to Jonathan Edwards on Wednesday after legal advice and following a row about whether he should remain an independent.

His wife, Emma Edwards, told BBC Wales it sends a message "that survivors of domestic abuse don't matter".

Plaid Cymru said it was "considering carefully" Ms Edwards's statement.

His wife said she now regretted a statement issued on her behalf in the wake of the incident which she said was drafted by a press officer for the MP.

Mrs Edwards said that she married her husband in November 2012. They are in the process of getting divorced.

"In May 2020 I called the police after being assaulted by my husband at our home," she said.

Mr Edwards subsequently accepted a police caution.

His wife said: "At the time I was in shock, denial and I was hopeful that we would be able to reconcile.

"Even though Jonathan attended an online domestic abuse course, he did not accept responsibility for what happened, minimising the incident. This meant that there was not going to be any reconciliation. I was perhaps naive to think that there could be."

She said the statement issued at the time, which said she accepted her husband's apology, was "drafted for me by Jonathan's press officer at the time and I was told that it would be the best way to stop it being a story".

"I now regret saying those words," she said, "as they have been used to excuse Jonathan's actions.

"I have since learned that he is presenting himself as the victim in all of this and this is why I am now seeking to set the record straight.

"I am appalled and disappointed that the party I was until recently a member of has accepted a domestic abuser to represent them as an MP.

"This sends the message that women don't matter and that survivors of domestic abuse don't matter. I always believed Plaid Cymru to be better than this.

"Until now, I have maintained silence. I am not a political person and I do not seek publicity... I cannot stand by and watch the truth being distorted as it has been."

Splits in Plaid emerged after a disciplinary panel gave the go-ahead for him to have his membership back in July.

At that time a majority of the National Executive Committee - Plaid's ruling body - recommended that the MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr should be refused entry to the Westminster group.

On Wednesday Plaid said it had reinstated Mr Edwards, ending his spell as an independent, following what it described as "procedural advice".

BBC Wales was told the party had been informed it would be "unlawful" for Mr Edwards to be kept out of the Westminster group.

Mr Edwards declined to comment, but issued a statement on Wednesday expressing "deep remorse" for his behaviour.

He said: "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."

Chief executive of gender equality organisation Chwarae Teg, Cerys Furlong, said Plaid Cymru should think again about its decision and the message it sent to all women.

"Our politics must be an environment in which women are safe and where violence, harassment and abuse are stamped out," she said.

Plaid Cymru said on Friday it believed "the voice of victims of domestic violence must be listened to".

It added: "The party is considering carefully the implications of the public statement made by Emma Edwards and what action may need to be taken as a result of her statement."

Plaid said this week that the NEC would review the party's processes to identify lessons that can be learned.

It said it would identify "the steps required for the party to be truly free from a culture of misogyny, and to actively and meaningfully promote, defend and extend women's participation in Plaid Cymru and wider politics".