Reform UK’s leader in the Senedd, Helen Jenner, said Wednesday she stands by member Joe Martin after the chamber’s presiding officer barred him from speaking until he apologizes for remarks about white people being replaced in the United Kingdom, BBC reported¹.

On Tuesday, Martin asked during business questions for a Welsh government statement on what he called the demographic replacement of white British people¹.

Business Minister Heledd Fychan asked whether the remarks complied with standing orders that let the presiding officer judge whether plenary contributions use discriminatory or offensive language, BBC said¹.

Presiding Officer Huw Irranca-Davies later said Martin’s remarks were unnecessarily provocative and deliberately offensive and that Martin would not be called to speak until he shows he understands acceptable conduct and apologizes to the chamber¹.

Senedd officials told BBC an apology would have to be made in plenary; the ruling does not cover committees, and Martin sits on the Equality, Human Rights and Social Justice Committee¹.

Jenner said members of the Senedd should not be silenced because others disagree, and that free speech means little if it only applies to opinions people agree with¹.

Plaid Cymru MS Marc Jones said Martin should apologize for harm and fear among communities, according to BBC¹.

Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe backed Martin and said on X that the Welsh Parliament should be shut down if it shuts down debate on demographic security and immigration, BBC reported¹.

BBC said Martin’s comments echoed a far-right conspiracy theory that the white population is being deliberately replaced through immigration, and that Irranca-Davies had previously rebuked Martin in September over remarks about surgeons in the Welsh NHS gender service¹.