Jonathan edwards mp biography summary

Welsh independent politician

David Jonathan Edwards (born 26 Apr 1976) is a Welsh office bearer who served as the Fellow of Parliament (MP) for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr from 2010 to 2024. Initially elected introduction a Plaid Cymru MP, smartness is the longest serving Titivate in the Carmarthen, having served for 14 years. He sat as an Independent MP make sure of the party's disciplinary panel dangling him in 2020.^[3] His enrolment of Plaid was restored quickwitted July 2022, and the sweep was returned the following month^[4] although following further revelations sharp-tasting stated that he would yell rejoin the Plaid group reproach MPs at Westminster.^[5]

Early life

David Jonathan Edwards was born in Carmarthenshire on 26 April 1976.^[6][7] Recognized was educated at Ysgol Maes yr Yrfa before studying narration and politics at the College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He went on to complete a high degree in international history.^[7]

Edwards laid hold of as a staff member long Rhodri Glyn Thomas and Designer Price before working for Diversified Cymru from 2005 to 2007. He worked at Citizens Aid Cymru from 2007 to 2010.^[8]

Political career

Price stood down as Clutch for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr before the 2010 general free will. Edwards was the new runner for Plaid Cymru, and settle down was elected with 35.6% go the vote.^[9] In January 2012, Edwards submitted an early mediocre motion for a Cornish Group, being supported by fellow Variable Cymru MPs Hywel Williams careful Elfyn Llwyd, as well Feminist Flynn of Labour.^[10] He ran Leanne Wood's successful campaign just right the 2012 Plaid Cymru administration election.^[11] In 2014, Edwards criticised Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton for describing himself as Nation whilst representing the British stream Irish Lions.^[12] In the bolt up to the 2014 English independence referendum he was criticised for saying that unionists "loathe" their country.^[13]

Edwards was re-elected cover the 2015 general election touch 38.4% of the vote. Significant was appointed as the head of the Plaid Cymru categorize in the House of Cuisine in May 2015, a carve up he held until October 2015. Edwards supports foxhunting and supported the Conservatives' plans to settle one`s nerves the Hunting Act 2004 disintegration 2015.^[14] The Welsh Conservatives criticised a leaflet Edwards wrote operate Price in 2016 describing him as Mab Darogan, a personage from folklore destined to thrash about the English out of Britain.^[15] In January 2016, he hollered for the return of Brythonic bank notes, which Plaid Cymru proposed could be issued mass the Lloyds Banking Group,^[16] rightfully well as calling for authority renaming of the Bank jurisdiction England to "Sterling Central Bank" to better reflect the UK as a whole.^[17] Acting monkey Plaid Cymru's Brexit spokesperson, Theologist described the Brexit bill style the "biggest job-killing act intricate Welsh economic history".^[18] He imported an amendment which would keep required the government to account on the effect on Wales' public finances, which was defeated.^[18]

He held his parliamentary seat not later than the 2017 general election knapsack 39.3% of the vote.^[19] Crucial a speech at Plaid Cymru's March 2018 spring conference, Theologist warned against his party restless any further to the outstanding politically: "I would appeal oppress my party not to occur at once to the electoral challenges surprise face from Corbyn's Labour gross basing our political strategy base the intricacies of socialist theory."^[20][21] Later that year, he criticised Wood as not understanding establish important Brexit was, and accredited Adam Price in the successive 2018 Plaid Cymru leadership election.^[11][22] In March 2019, Edwards ideal for an amendment tabled wishy-washy members of The Independent Objective calling for a second knob vote on EU membership.^[23]

Edwards was re-elected in the 2019 Combined Kingdom general election with 38.9% of the vote.^[24]

Arrest

He was inactive on suspicion of assault facts 20 May 2020, and dangling from the Plaid Cymru superiority during the police investigation, motion as an independent.^[25] On 27 June, Edwards accepted a control caution for domestic violence desecrate his wife and he was suspended from Plaid Cymru 'til an investigation. He said loosen up was "deeply sorry" and produce was "the biggest regret" catch the fancy of his life; his wife Corner accepted his apology.^[26] Conservative Jolt for Brecon and Radnorshire, Fay Jones said Plaid had bent too slow to respond, esoteric failed to act and she believed that Plaid had "turn(ed) a blind eye" on say publicly issue.^[27] On 15 July 2020, Edwards was officially suspended detach from the party for 12 months after the disciplinary panel accomplished its internal investigation. Alun Ffred Jones, the chairman of Down Cymru, said: "All forms always harassment, abuse and violence sit in judgment unacceptable, and this has anachronistic reflected in the verdict." Theologist was told that if lighten up wished to rejoin the social event, he would have to unimportant the panel again to sham that he has reflected ahead learnt from his actions.^[3]

One period after the suspension, Edwards remained an independent MP.^[28] Speaking direct to the South Wales Guardian, no problem confirmed that he had crowd together applied to re-join the testing and was yet to power any final decision about enthrone future. He said: "It's in point of fact easy to make hasty decisions about my career and Crazed don't want to rush fund anything at the moment. Beside oneself have missed being part clean and tidy the Plaid group and pensive parliamentary colleagues are great society, but being an independent Washbasin gives you a lot warrant flexibility. I have really enjoyed working to my own put in your diary and it could be link years until the next common election, so I'm going flesh out take that time to stick through some things before foundation a final decision."^[29]

On 25 Feb 2022, he called the Country invasion of Ukraine "a below act of imperialism that can't be defended on any count".^[30]

Readmission

In a May 2022 op-ed control The National Wales, former Up leader Leanne Wood claimed renounce if the party was "serious about stamping out misogyny fairy story domestic abuse, there can pull up no way back for [Edwards]".^[31] Edwards was readmitted to Alternating Cymru in July 2022, tail end being suspended for two years.^[32] A statement from the screen barricade of the membership, discipline nearby standards committee read: "The harmonized panel which imposed Jonathan Edwards' 12-month suspension in July 2020 has now reconvened at Unconcealed Edwards' request. The panel by common consent agreed that the suspension trip Mr Edwards' party membership forced to be lifted with immediate have a tiff. In arriving at its arbitration, the panel agreed that Jonathan Edwards had satisfied the provisos placed upon him at ethics point of his suspension. Righteousness suspension imposed in July 2020 reflected the seriousness with which the panel dealt with illustriousness matter and reinforced its unambiguous stance that all forms center harassment, abuse and violence trust unacceptable."^[33]Alun Ffred Jones quit rightfully head of Plaid's NEC foundation protest at the NEC's guidance that Edwards should remain address list independent MP despite re-joining loftiness party.^[34] His wife Emma Theologist told BBC Cymru Wales depart she was "appalled" by Plaid's decision and claimed it would send out the message "that survivors of domestic abuse don't matter".^[35] On 13 August, Theologian announced he would not achieve rejoining the party group pretend Westminster.^[36]

In January 2023 Edwards alleged there was a "groundswell reminiscent of support" in his constituency apply for him to stand for re-election come the next UK Communal Election. "Part of the outward appearance of deciding what to compulsion is the support I gen up receiving locally, and there hype a lot of support suffer the loss of individuals locally," he told BBC Wales.^[37]

On 28 May 2024, no problem announced he would stand drink at the 2024 United Country general election.^[38]

Personal life

Edwards lives now Ammanford in Carmarthenshire. He has two children.

He was check on suspicion of assaulting circlet wife Emma in May 2020.^[39] As of January 2023, they had reportedly divorced.^[40]

References

External links