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| UKIP AM Gareth Bennett barred over 'hateful' remarks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UKIP AM Gareth Bennett has been barred from speaking in Senedd debates for 2018 following a speech about transgender rights. | |
| Mr Bennett refused to withdraw or apologise for saying society could only take so much "deviation from the norm". | Mr Bennett refused to withdraw or apologise for saying society could only take so much "deviation from the norm". |
| Presiding Officer Elin Jones said on Wednesday some of the comments were "particularly hateful". | Presiding Officer Elin Jones said on Wednesday some of the comments were "particularly hateful". |
| Ms Jones wants the AM to apologise before he can contribute again, but he said he had no intention of doing so. | |
| In a debate on Tuesday, Mr Bennett told the assembly: "There is only so much deviation from the norm that any society can take before that society completely implodes. | In a debate on Tuesday, Mr Bennett told the assembly: "There is only so much deviation from the norm that any society can take before that society completely implodes. |
| "If we carry on down this road of appeasing the nuttiest elements of the transgender movement," he said, "then what we will face as a society, within a very short space of time, is total implosion." | "If we carry on down this road of appeasing the nuttiest elements of the transgender movement," he said, "then what we will face as a society, within a very short space of time, is total implosion." |
| He was speaking about a UK government proposal to make the process of changing legal gender easier. | He was speaking about a UK government proposal to make the process of changing legal gender easier. |
| After Labour AM Joyce Watson raised a point of order on Wednesday objecting to Mr Bennett's remarks, Ms Jones said: "Some of the comments were particularly hateful to the transgender community. | After Labour AM Joyce Watson raised a point of order on Wednesday objecting to Mr Bennett's remarks, Ms Jones said: "Some of the comments were particularly hateful to the transgender community. |
| "This chamber is not a platform to demean citizens of Wales. Everyone deserves our respect and our understanding." | "This chamber is not a platform to demean citizens of Wales. Everyone deserves our respect and our understanding." |
| The presiding officer asked Mr Bennett to withdraw his comments and apologise. He refused. | The presiding officer asked Mr Bennett to withdraw his comments and apologise. He refused. |
| UKIP Wales leader Neil Hamilton then intervened, saying it was a "point of argument and debate" and the remarks were related to a bill on gender recognition in the House of Commons. | UKIP Wales leader Neil Hamilton then intervened, saying it was a "point of argument and debate" and the remarks were related to a bill on gender recognition in the House of Commons. |
| "If we cannot in this chamber debate the matters which are contained in a bill that is proposed to be introduced in the House of Commons, I think that's a very serious diminution of the democratic rights of the Welsh people," Mr Hamilton said. | "If we cannot in this chamber debate the matters which are contained in a bill that is proposed to be introduced in the House of Commons, I think that's a very serious diminution of the democratic rights of the Welsh people," Mr Hamilton said. |
| The UKIP group leader asked Ms Jones to outline what words she took objection to. | The UKIP group leader asked Ms Jones to outline what words she took objection to. |
| Ms Jones pointed to Mr Bennett's "deviation from the norm" comment. | Ms Jones pointed to Mr Bennett's "deviation from the norm" comment. |
| She said the South Wales Central AM "will not be called in this chamber in 2018" until he apologises and withdraws his comment. | She said the South Wales Central AM "will not be called in this chamber in 2018" until he apologises and withdraws his comment. |
| Mr Bennett then left the chamber. Mr Hamilton attempted to make a further point of order, but Ms Jones dismissed the protest and went on to the next item. | Mr Bennett then left the chamber. Mr Hamilton attempted to make a further point of order, but Ms Jones dismissed the protest and went on to the next item. |
| 'Collapse' | |
| Speaking to BBC Wales later on Wednesday Mr Bennett stood his ground - saying he had no intention of apologising for the remarks. | |
| "I do not see that they are in anyway unparliamentarily," he said. | |
| "It would be a move towards a collapse of free speech if I was to apologise for them." | |
| Mr Bennett said UKIP AMs were unclear on which assembly rule was used to gag him: "As far as we were aware all that could happen is that I could be withdrawn or excluded from proceedings for one day." | |
| UKIP Wales leader Neil Hamilton said he had a "frank exchange of views with the Presiding Officer" on Wednesday afternoon, with a further meeting planned over the recess. | |
| "UKIP is a minority whose rights need to be protected as well," he added. | |
| Andrew White, director of LGBT rights group Stonewall Cymru, said: 'It is disappointing that UKIP's Gareth Bennett has singled out trans people as somehow less deserving of human rights than others. | Andrew White, director of LGBT rights group Stonewall Cymru, said: 'It is disappointing that UKIP's Gareth Bennett has singled out trans people as somehow less deserving of human rights than others. |
| "It is particularly worrying that he chooses to demonstrate such narrow-minded bullying behaviour in the chamber of our National Assembly." | "It is particularly worrying that he chooses to demonstrate such narrow-minded bullying behaviour in the chamber of our National Assembly." |