Members of the Senedd from Plaid Cymru, Labour, and the Greens staged a walkout on Wednesday during a speech by Reform MS Joe Martin, who joked that Welsh students cannot read and claimed Indian nurses are taking Welsh jobs. The incident marks the second consecutive day of controversy involving Martin, who was accused of racism on Tuesday for comments about Sudanese asylum seekers.
Presiding Officer Huw Irranca-Davies rebuked Martin for his remarks, but some Plaid members believe stronger action should have been taken sooner. Reform's Jason O'Connell called the walkout "shameful."
In a debate on international spending, Martin mocked several examples of foreign aid, including funding for tree planting in Uganda. He quipped that the same question was put to "some Welsh students who had been through our underfunded education system, but we didn't get a reply because we emailed them and they couldn't read." He then added that recruiting nurses from India was beneficial because "Welsh people who would have otherwise become nurses can instead go on universal credit."
Plaid MS Zaynub Akbar responded by saying, "I'm going to leave this because I don't accept any of this and I don't want to be a part of it." Most Plaid members present, as well as Labour's Mike Hedges and Green leader Anthony Slaughter, followed her out.
Constitution Minister Dafydd Trystan Davies described the debate as having descended "to the level of a public house." Reform's chief whip Llŷr Powell defended Martin's earlier comments, telling political rivals to "get used to it."
Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan said the remarks were "dangerous and derogatory" and has written to the Presiding Officer seeking an urgent ruling on whether Martin breached standing orders. Joe Martin has been approached for comment.