Welsh nationalist MP is suspended by his party for a year after accepting caution for attacking his wife at their £600,000 home
- Welsh MP Jonathan Edwards was suspended from Plaid Cymru for 12 months
- Edwards, 44, accepted a formal caution by police over a domestic assault
- He described it in a personal statement as ‘by far the biggest regret of my life’
- Wife Emma Edwards said she’s accepted his apology and considers the matter closed
An MP has been suspended by his party for a year after being arrested on suspicion of attacking his wife.
Welsh nationalist MP Jonathan Edwards accepted a formal caution by police over the domestic assault.
Plaid Cymru’s disciplinary panel suspended the Carmarthen East MP from the party for 12 months after ten years in the House of Commons.
Father-of-three Edwards, 44, described it in a personal statement as ‘by far the biggest regret of my life’.
Plaid Cymru’s disciplinary panel suspended Jonathan Edwards, MP for Carmarthen East, from the party for 12 months after ten years in the House of Commons
His wife Emma Edwards said that she’s accepted her husband’s apology and considers the matter closed.
Mr Edwards said: ‘I am deeply sorry. It is by far the biggest regret of my life.
‘I complied fully with the Police and acted with the best interests of my wife and children as my primary motive throughout.
‘I have referred myself to an investigation by my party. My priority now is to work with my wife to ensure as stable a future as possible for our family.’
Wife Emma Edwards said: ‘I have accepted my husband’s apology. Throughout the decade we have been together he has been a loving and caring husband and father. As far as I am concerned the matter is now closed.’
Edwards and his wife Emma, who have three children together, live in a £600,000 detached house in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.
Edwards, 44, accepted a formal caution by police over the domestic assault
He was seen being taken from the house by three police officers after the early-morning incident on May 20.
A statement issued on behalf of Plaid’s disciplinary panel said: ‘Jonathan Edwards referred himself to the party’s disciplinary process and co-operated fully with the investigation.
‘Having considered all the evidence, the panel imposed a 12-month suspension from the party. Any lifting of the suspension after 12 months is dependent upon Mr Edwards appearing before the panel to demonstrate that he has undertaken a period of self-reflection and learning to address his actions.
‘A caution for common assault is a serious matter and if Mr Edwards fails to abide by the terms of the suspension he will be excluded.’
Mr Edwards said: ‘I fully accept the decision of the disciplinary panel.’
Edwards, who acted as Plaid Cymru’s Brexit spokesman, was critical of the knock-on effect of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union on the Welsh economy.
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