Martin Roberts, a Reform UK Senedd candidate in the Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency, has claimed that “abuse in nurseries will skyrocket” if free childcare in Wales is extended under Plaid Cymru’s policy
A Reform UK candidate for the forthcoming Senedd election in Wales has claimed that “abuse in nurseries will skyrocket” if parents were granted more hours of free childcare.
In an online post, Martin Roberts, one of Reform’s candidates in the Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency, went on to say “mothers will wish they’d looked after their babies themselves”. Mr Roberts also stated that, broadly speaking, “women nurture” while “men go out and provide”.
His remarks come after most of the major parties have pledged to extend childcare provision in Wales ahead of the Senedd election on May 7. Reform UK has not committed to any childcare policy should they be elected.
Reform has not responded directly to Mr Roberts’ comments, but in reply the party said Plaid Cymru “don’t have a leg to stand on”, referencing previous social media posts by some former and current Plaid candidates.
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Mr Roberts’ remarks follow allegations that another Reform candidate in the constituency, Mark Lawrence, told a hustings event that he would rather support women to remain at home to care for their children than invest in childcare provision, reports Wales Online.
Plaid Cymru candidate Heledd Fychan, who attended the hustings event on Monday, alleged that Mr Lawrence also said all the women he knew wanted to stay at home. She condemned his remarks, declaring they belonged in the “dinosaur section of a museum”. Mr Lawrence is the third-placed candidate for Reform on the Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr list, while Mr Roberts sits fourth on the party’s list in the same constituency.
Mr Roberts’ remarks regarding childcare and nurseries came in response to a post made by Mrs Fychan concerning what was allegedly said at the hustings event in Pontypridd.
He wrote: “He [Mark Lawrence] did not say women should stay at home. He was suggesting an alternative scenario, and you know it.
“I’ll tell you something else, abuse in nurseries will sky rocket if you implement this policy. Then mothers will wish they’d looked after their babies themselves. Mark my words. Children should be raised by the parents until they are old enough for pre school nursery.” [sic]
When challenged over his comment appearing to imply that nursery workers are abusive, Mr Roberts responded that if Plaid Cymru’s policy of 20 free hours per week for children aged nine months to four years old was introduced, “hundreds of new workers” would be required across Wales.
He went on: “Amongst these, there will be those with dark intentions, even if vetted, if they have not been caught before. Have you not read the news lately? No way would I hand my baby over to anyone, good intentions or not, I have three of them, and neither would their mother.
“I haven’t said women should stay at home, I’m merely stating that that is usually the case.
“Women nurture, men go out and provide. Of those roles can be switched then fair enough. Let’s face it, the parent with the highest salary would probably be the one that continues to work, especially in times like these.” [sic]
When approached for a response to Mr Robert’s remarks, a Reform spokesman told WalesOnline: “One Plaid candidate shared a message about the killing of a senior politician, and another used disgraceful and shocking language to describe children.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Plaid. They don’t have a leg to stand on.”