Local Reform Facebook page criticised Welsh minister for talking about family tragedy

ByDavid Deans

Wales political reporter

A local Reform Facebook page for a Senedd constituency criticised a Plaid Cymru minister for discussing a family tragedy in a newspaper interview.

Two Reform MSs from the same area both distanced themselves from the social media comment, which accused Siân Gwenllian of using her experience as a "card for political gain".

The housing and local government minister brought up four children as a single parent after her husband, Dafydd, died from cancer in 1999.

Plaid said the comment was "vile". Reform's James Evans called it "totally unacceptable".

A Reform UK spokesman said: "This is not a London HQ or Senedd Group office account."

Evans' colleague Iain McIntosh also distanced himself from the now-deleted comment, which was made by Reform UK Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd on Facebook, and said he had asked for it to be deleted.

It is not clear who runs the account. Evans said he was not sure who ran the page and was investigating.

Both Evans and McIntosh are Reform MSs for the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd area.

In a profile for WalesOnline, external, Gwenllian said of her husband's death: "It was a very difficult time for me but it taught me so much about myself. It taught me to have empathy, that really grew during that time.

"I can empathise with lots of people in vulnerable situations but it also taught me, 'gosh, well, if I can do that, I can do anything'."

The article was posted to a WalesOnline Facebook account, which highlighted the tragedy in the headline.

In the comments on the post, the Reform branch account said: "We have all had family tragedies, but we don't use it as a card for political gain."

That prompted Plaid Cymru MS, Beca Brown, to reply: "What a vile comment.

"There are politicians in all parties - including your own - who have personal experiences that reflect those of their constituents.

"Sharing those experiences publicly makes others who have suffered similarly feel less alone, and it can bring people together and shine a light on the suffering of others."

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson told BBC Wales: "The Reform UK Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd page must reflect on their disgusting comment - and as the local Reform MS, James Evans should condemn such an abhorrent statement."

The account describes itself as the "official Facebook page of Reform UK Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd, covering the areas of Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, with Neath and Swansea East".

Evans told BBC Wales: "These comments are totally unacceptable."

He said neither he nor his branch chairman had been aware that the comment had been posted, and that both he and the local branch would "totally distance ourselves" from the message.

"We've got a new branch chair. We're not fully aware of who is the admin of the page," he said.

"If we knew who the admin of the page was, these comments would be removed.

"We're doing an investigation to find out.

"Politicians are right to highlight personal experiences and it's not right that this comment was made about a fellow member of the Senedd."

McIntosh told BBC Wales that he was also distancing himself from the comment.

"I have asked the admins to remove the message," he said.