Story Highlight
- Rhun ap Iorwerth faced criticism from Helen Jenner in FMQs.
- Sarah Cooper-Lesadd joined Plaid Cymru, increasing their group to 44.
- Jenner proposed a motion for an inquiry into grooming gangs.
- Plaid Cymru voted against the motion proposed by Reform UK.
- Ap Iorwerth defended the government’s commitment to safety in Wales.
Full Story
Rhun ap Iorwerth faced scrutiny today during First Minister’s Questions, where he denied claims that his government was failing women in Wales. The session in the full Senedd occurred shortly after Sarah Cooper-Lesadd defected from Reform UK to join Plaid Cymru, increasing the party’s membership to 44. This was the first occasion for Helen Jenner to formally address the Senedd as the opposition leader.
During the session, Mrs Jenner raised past concerns regarding grooming gangs and highlighted her party’s calls for an urgent investigation into these activities in Wales. Her motion, which was rejected by Plaid Cymru, sought a statutory independent inquiry into grooming gangs, prompting her to question the First Minister’s commitment to ensuring the safety of women and girls. “How on earth can women and girls expect you to have their best interests and safety at heart?” she asked.
Mrs Jenner further accused the First Minister of failing to stand out from the rest of the UK, expressing her concern that authorities may have concealed evidence of rape gang activity to avoid igniting racial tensions. She argued that failure to thoroughly investigate the issue could lead to further crimes of this nature. “Can you really look me in the eye and say that you didn’t let down victims last week by voting against wanting a grooming gang investigation in Wales?” Mrs Jenner pressed.
In his response, Rhun ap Iorwerth asserted his government’s genuine concern for the safety of individuals in Wales. “I can look you in the eye every single day of the week and tell you that we have a government that isn’t interested in scoring political points about what is a very, very sensitive issue,” he stated. He emphasized the work being done to assess the scale of the problem in Wales and the government’s commitment to supporting the inquiry into the lessons that can be learned. “She may want to make this a constitutional issue; I make this about the safety of people in Wales, and that is the difference between her and me,” he concluded.
Source: read the original report.
