MP is cautioned by police and suspended from Plaid Cymru after being arrested last month for ‘assaulting his wife’ who now says she’s accepted his apology
- Jonathan Edwards was cautioned by police on suspicion of attacking his wife
- The 44-year-old Welsh nationalist MP has also been suspended by Plaid Cymru
- His wife Emma Edwards says that she has accepted her husband’s apology
A Welsh MP has been cautioned by police after being arrested last month on suspicion of attacking his wife.
Welsh nationalist MP Jonathan Edwards, who has represented Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 2010, was released after being questioned by officers over the alleged domestic assault.
He has since been suspended by Plaid Cymru after referring himself to the party’s disciplinary committee.
His wife Emma Edwards says that she has accepted her husband’s apology and considers the matter closed.
Welsh nationalist MP Jonathan Edwards (above) has been cautioned by police after he was arrested last month on suspicion of attacking his wife Emma Edwards
She said: ‘I have accepted my husband’s apology. Throughout the decade we have been together he has been a loving and caring husband and father. As far as I am concerned the matter is now closed.’
Father-of-three Edwards, 44, said he is ‘deeply sorry’ and described it in a personal statement as ‘by far the biggest regret of my life’.
He said: ‘I complied fully with the Police and acted with the best interests of my wife and children as my primary motive throughout.
‘I have referred myself to an investigation by my party. My priority now is to work with my wife to ensure as stable a future as possible for our family.’
Edwards and his wife Emma have three children together and live in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, in a £600,000 detached house.
He was seen being taken from the house by three police officers after the early-morning bust up on May 20.
His wife’s mother, Erica, previously told The Sun that after arriving home with bags of shopping, her daughter had thrown Edwards out.
Edwards, who has represented Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 2010, has been suspended by Plaid Cymru after referring himself for investigation by the party
She said: ‘Yes, the police were called. Jonathan was arrested and taken by the officers.
‘He is no longer living here. I do not know where he is living now but he won’t be coming back here. I’m looking after Emma and my grandchildren.’
Edwards acted as Plaid Cymru’s Brexit spokesman and was critical of the knock-on effect of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union on the Welsh economy.
Plaid Cymru party chair Alun Ffred Jones said: ‘We are aware of the personal statement made by Mr Edwards, who recognises his actions fall below what is expected. Mr Edwards issued the statement with the support of his family and we ask that their privacy is respected.
‘Mr Edwards has referred himself to the party’s disciplinary committee and has been suspended. As this process is ongoing we will not be commenting further at this time.’
Officers from the Dyfed-Powys force are not releasing any further information about the allegation.