A Reform UK Senedd member has been accused of making "disorderly, discriminatory or offensive language" comments when discussing gender affirming surgery. Joe Martin, the Reform UK Senedd member for Caerdydd Penarth, contributed to a debate about the pause of services through the Welsh Gender Service.
On August 28, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board was asked by the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) to pause referrals for gender affirming surgery and scheduled surgeries through the Welsh Gender Service while an independent clinical review is undertaken. Patients were impacted, with some reportedly in hospital waiting for surgery when they were told it would not be going ahead.
Debate on pause in treatment
A debate was tabled by Green Party MS Anthony Slaughter, which was titled 'The unacceptable pause in scheduled treatment for trans patients'. There were a number of contributions. Plaid Senedd members spoke in support of the trans community and asked questions about the ongoing pause in referrals, while Conservative MS Natasha Asghar said there was "nothing unacceptable" about the delay and said the investigation needed to be carried out.
By the time Mr Martin spoke, members had been asked by the Llywydd to keep their contributions short. Mr Martin said he would therefore just read the tail end of his planned contribution.
Controversial comments
"The Welsh Gender Service should be closed forever and the doctors in the UK who performed surgeries on children should be imprisoned for what they've done. And if Reform form a government in Westminster in 2029, I'll be making representations to our colleagues there that justice be served to the liars and the butchers responsible for what's happened to what's left of the young people who have had surgery performed."
There was visible shock from Senedd members who were in the chamber for the debate. The health minister, Mabon ap Gwynfor, said the comments were "entirely unacceptable". "May I distance myself and the Government from the comments made by Joe Martin, which are entirely unacceptable in the context of today's debate," he said.
Calls for review
At the end of the debate, Heledd Fychan, a Plaid Cymru government minister, said she wanted Llywydd Huw Irranca-Davies to assess whether his comments were a breach of the code of conduct covering Senedd members. "Each member here is governed by a code of conduct. We are also obliged to act lawfully and be mindful of different laws, including the Equality Act 2010. I would ask you to review Joe Martin MS's comments on the cofnod [record] and determine if you are of the view that he is guilty, in your view, of using disorderly, discriminatory or offensive language or language that detracts from the dignity of the Senedd. I would suggest strongly that the comments were not in line with our Standing Orders."
Mr ap Gwynfor said it was actually his first opportunity to address the ongoing concerns about the service. "I would like to acknowledge the pain and distress that many have felt since the decision was announced. For many, this was seen as another decision in a long series of decisions to strip trans people of their rights, eroding their very identity, and I understand these concerns and fears. So, let me emphasise that this was a clinical decision, made on the basis of clinical evidence without political intervention. Let me also be clear that we—that I—stand with the trans community.
"As a government, we are committed to safeguarding the rights of every LGBTQ+ person in Wales, and, as members know, Plaid Cymru played a key role in ensuring the delivery of the LGBTQ+ action plan. Our manifesto sets out our commitment to the trans community, and you can be assured that the Welsh Government stands with the trans community and will continue to defend the rights of trans people in line with our commitment to a welcoming and inclusive Wales."
He continued: "I recognise that some people accessing gender identity services will already be experiencing emotional distress, and I understand the additional distress, anxiety and uncertainty of this situation. I want to be clear that we remain committed to ensuring access to high-quality specialist gender identity services in Wales. I also want to reassure people that this decision is a temporary pause, not a stop, and a decision made by the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee in the interest of patient safety."
