Joe Martin - Member of the Senedd for Caerdydd Penarth | Reform Watch
Profile and accountability tracker for Joe Martin, Member of the Senedd for Caerdydd Penarth. Reform UK.
Role: Member of the Senedd for Caerdydd Penarth
Party: Reform UK
Recorded incidents (showing 1-3 of 3)
Joe Martin proposed banning foreign nationals from social housing and HMOs
Category: xenophobia
Joe Martin called for ending foreign nationals’ access to houses in multiple occupation and social housing as part of a Reform-tabled motion debated in the Senedd. He presented the proposal seeking to bar foreign nationals from licensed house‑shares and social housing. The Senedd rejected the proposal by 57 votes to 31 and approved an amendment restating that social housing allocations are governed by legislation and local allocation schemes based on need. Sian Gwenllian described the motion as inhumane and urged members to reject it, Welsh Greens leader Anthony Slaughter called it nonsensical, hateful and inflammatory, and Nigel Farage had earlier said Reform would require foreign‑national social tenants to leave within three months or face possible deportation; BBC reporting noted the motion would have been non‑binding even if passed.
Joe Martin reprimanded for calling Welsh Gender Service doctors "butchers" who should be jailed
Category: discriminatory remark
In a Senedd debate on 23 September 2026, Joe Martin called for the Welsh Gender Service to be shut down, describing those responsible for surgery on children as "butchers" and "liars" who should be jailed. He did not specify which cases he meant; the service treats adults aged 18 and over. On 29 September the Presiding Officer ruled the remarks "disorderly and offensive", in breach of standing orders, and asked him not to use such language again. Reform Wales said the remarks should be protected as free speech but accepted the ruling.
Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq36ld40x0e1o https://nation.cymru/news/reform-ms-reprimanded-over-offensive-gender-service-comments/
Joe Martin prompted a Senedd walkout after saying Indian nurses were taking Welsh jobs
Category: inflammatory language
On 17 June 2026, Plaid Cymru, Labour and Green members walked out of the Senedd during a speech in which Joe Martin joked that Welsh students could not read and said Indian nurses were taking Welsh jobs. The Presiding Officer rebuked him. The day before, Plaid had accused him of racism over a speech claiming attacks by Sudanese asylum seekers were "inevitable". Reform's chief whip told rivals to "get used to it".
Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgmq1v6d3vo https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/politicians-walk-out-senedd-session-34139621