Scale of Senedd member abuse revealed after minister announces intention to delete X account
This week a Welsh government minister announced he would delete his X account once he steps back from his transport role, after facing significant abuse on social media.
Lee Waters, the Welsh government’s deputy minister for climate change, said he would now receive “a pile of malign comments for even the most innocuous posts”.
Sky News has spoken to a number of members of the Welsh parliament about their own experiences.
Hannah Blythyn. File pic: Welsh government
‘Impact on people around me’
Hannah Blythyn has been a member of the Senedd for eight years and has been the Welsh Labour government’s deputy minister for social partnership since 2021.
Since being elected, Ms Blythyn told Sky News she has had to “reflect” on her life.
“If I wasn’t a politician, I don’t think I’d have cameras on my house, so it’s directly connected to the role that I do,” she said.
Ms Blythyn says she made a decision when first elected “to be open about [her] sexuality” as a lesbian.
“I’ve been open to my friends and family for years, and I thought it was really important, as somebody who grew up thinking I didn’t have anybody I could identify with or nobody visible in public life to provide that visibility myself,” she said.
“But I think, with that comes a cost as well, to an extent.”
One member of the public emailed Ms Blythyn, saying she “should seek conversion therapy“.
“The worst for me I think…[was] it’s impact on the people around me,” she added.
“So this same person also contacted my wife. I found out later they’d also tried to contact my dad and contact a number of other people about me.”
Jane Dodds. File pic: PA
‘Rather scared’
Jane Dodds has been leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats since 2017 and has been a member of the Senedd since 2021.
Ms Dodds says she came off Facebook two years ago and recently handed responsibility for her X account over to her team due to its impact on her mental health.
She told Sky News she has received death threats and reported to the police one comment on Facebook which said she should be “hanged”.
During the pandemic, a vote on introducing COVID passes for nightclubs and large events was held in the Senedd.
After the vote, Ms Dodds said that around 80 anti-vax protesters surrounded her car as she left the building. She told Sky News the incident left her feeling “rather scared”.
“I was the first to leave the Senedd after the vote and we came out of the car park and they saw the car coming out and they ran towards us and ran around, shouting and put things on the car,” she said.
Ms Dodds was first elected to Westminster in 2019 for four months but lost her seat in the general election that December.
Having served as a member in both Cardiff Bay and the Commons, Ms Dodds says her brief time as an MP led her to conclude that Westminster creates an “anti-politician environment” and an unsafe atmosphere.
Sioned Williams. File pic: Plaid Cymru
‘Would I want my daughter in this role?’
Sioned Williams has been a member of the Senedd since 2021 and is Plaid Cymru‘s equalities spokesperson.
She told Sky News she had experienced abuse in the past and that the threat of danger was “always there”.
“Sometimes I do ask myself, would I want my daughter to be in this role, would I want my sister to be in this role,” Ms Williams said.
“And when you’re trying to really encourage women to come forward as candidates, there is a little voice in your head as well that’s a little bit worried about what you’re doing because you know what they’re going to face.”
Ms Williams said she had taken steps to “adapt her home” since being elected.
“I lock the doors now when I’m at home, I never used to before. That kind of thing. I’m always conscious about keeping the car doors locked when I’m in the car,” she said.
“I never would have dreamt of doing that before, the camera on the doorbell. I know lots of people have to do that but it’s specifically because I’m a politician that I’m having to take those measures.
“You just have to because of the level of abuse that you do get. I can deal with people disagreeing with my views, that’s what politics is, but it’s the gendered abuse that you get back that is worrying.”
Natasha Asghar. File pic: PA
‘Thankful to those before me’
Natasha Asghar was first elected as a member of the Senedd for the Welsh Conservatives in 2021.
She is the first woman of colour to be a member of the Welsh parliament.
Ms Asghar told Sky News that since her election she had been “fortunate” not to have faced much abuse until a recent incident when giving a talk to students.
“It was a really difficult time and it was probably the first time in my career that not just myself, where I felt unsafe, but I felt unsafe and scared for my team as well, which is very important to me,” she said.
“Because ultimately, they are the ones who I work with day in, day out, and if something happens to me, they’re usually in the front line as well.”
Ms Asghar’s father was Mohammad Asghar, who served as a Senedd member from 2007 until his death in 2020.
Up until his death, Ms Asghar said her father “experienced awful hate [on social media] from people from all over the place”.
“And the things that they said were not only against him, his politics, but him as a person, his religion, his family. Everything got slated, and he just took it,” she added.
“I’m very fortunate, but I know those before me equally had a very rough ride, so I’m thankful to them for tolerating what they tolerated.”
File pic: Samuel Kurtz
‘Difficult to stomach’
Samuel Kurtz is another of the 2021 Tory intake of Senedd members.
He told Sky News that he “quite regularly” experiences trolling online.
“It does impact on your wellbeing when you see someone coming and attacking you personally rather than professionally,” he said.
“That’s quite difficult to stomach, and especially for family members who have to read that.
“I’ve had incidents of my mum ringing me up, going ‘Who’s this and why are they saying this about you?’
“And I’m like ‘Mum, don’t worry about it, it’s trolling, it’s someone anonymous. No idea who they are, they just get their kicks from doing that so don’t worry’.
“But that’s a difficult conversation to have with my mum and it’s most probably a difficult thing for a mother to see for her son. Unfortunately, that’s just the age of social media.”
Mr Kurtz said he hadn’t experienced much abuse face-to-face.
“I did have one incident where I was just opening the door in my office to leave while someone was trying to open it to come in and they did, and then they started berating me around COVID vaccines,” he said.
“I didn’t feel personally threatened, but with some of the language that they were using, sort of ‘traitor’, ‘blood on your hands’, you don’t want to hear that.”
Vikki Howells. Pic: Welsh Labour
‘Don’t feel safe’
Vikki Howells has been a Senedd member since 2016 and is the Welsh Labour group leader.
She told Sky News that “every female politician” she knows had experienced some form of gender-related abuse.
“Lots of female politicians have faced rape threats, lots have faced threats of violence which perhaps would not be directed towards them if they were male,” she said.
“I do know of politicians within the Senedd who’ve faced those threats.”
Ms Howells said that female politicians especially can feel “physically vulnerable when [they’re] out in public”.
“If you’re leaving a meeting in the dark and there’s no one else around, the worry that people might know who you are and there could be someone who’s following you,” she added.
“It’s not just me, I’ve spoken to a number of female MSs who don’t feel particularly safe in and around Cardiff Bay after dark.”
Ms Howells said she once received a comment on social media that she “should be dragged through the streets by [her] hair”.
But she said she “wouldn’t want women to be put off going into politics as a result of the actions of a minority”.
“We’ve got really talented women in Welsh Labour and we need to do all we can to make sure that they feel that they can put their names forward if they want to, and not face a barrage of abuse,” she added.
Read more:
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Drakeford concerned Johnson COVID handling was ‘threat’ to UK
A spokesperson for the Senedd Commission said it takes “the safety and welfare of all members, staff and other stakeholders seriously”.
“Members of the Senedd and their support staff can access a comprehensive range of equipment, guidance and support from the Senedd security team, and this is kept under constant review in response to evolving challenges,” the spokesperson added.
“Training on a range of security matters (such as online security and personal safety) is also available to members and their staff.”
Former anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq has been named in a third inquiry being launched by authorities in Bangladesh investigating money laundering and power misuse.
At a media briefing in Dhaka held hours after Ms Siddiq resigned as a minister, investigators confirmed they were working on another probe involving the Labour MP.
It is the third Bangladesh inquiry and comes on top of questions about London properties she lives in or has lived in with links to her aunt, the ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party.
Director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission Akhtar Hossain told Sky News the organisation was “preparing another investigation against Tulip Siddiq and her uncle Tarique Siddique for money laundering, power misuse, and illegally occupying Bangladesh government property”.
Mr Hossain also said the investigation team in Bangladesh would contact the UK authorities if additional information was required.
A spokesperson for Ms Siddiq said: “No evidence has been presented for these allegations.
“Tulip Siddiq has not been contacted by anyone on the matter and totally denies the claims.”
Tarique Siddique is Ms Siddiq’s uncle – the husband of her mother’s younger sister – and previously served as a defence and security adviser to her aunt Sheikh Hasina.
Ms Hasina fled Bangladesh in August and resigned her post after 20 years amid weeks of deadly protests.
Read more: What allegations is Tulip Siddiq facing?
Tulip Siddiq with Sheikh Hasina in 2009. Pic: Reuters
The new government has since accused Ms Hasina’s Awami League administration of crimes and corruption while in office.
Ms Siddiq quit as anti-corruption minister on Tuesday after links with her aunt and her political regime came under scrutiny.
It is claimed she has benefited financially from three London properties linked to her aunt and her allies.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s standards adviser Sir Laurie Magnus who said he had “not identified evidence of improprieties” but added it was “regrettable” Ms Siddiq had not been more alert to the “potential reputational risks” of the ties to her aunt.
Ms Siddiq said continuing in her role would be “a distraction” for the government but insisted she had done nothing wrong.
Read more: Tulip Siddiq boasted of links with ousted Bangladesh PM
Tulip Siddiq (far left) with her aunt, Sheikh Hasina (third left), and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a 2013 signing ceremony in the Kremlin as Moscow lent $1.5bn to help build a nuclear power station. File pic: AP
Earlier this week, Sky News revealed Bangladesh investigators were looking into Ms Siddiq as part of a separate corruption inquiry into the illegal allocation of land in a new town development outside of Dhaka.
She was also named in an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of $5bn (£3.9bn) from a nuclear power project in the country developed in partnership with Russia.
Labour sources suggested these accusations were not genuine and Ms Siddiq had not been contacted by anyone in Bangladesh about the inquiries.
Nobel peace-prize winning economist Muhammad Yunus, who is leading Bangladesh’s interim government, said the London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated and returned if she is found to have benefited from “plain robbery”.
Following her resignation, Professor Yunus said there will be a thorough investigation into properties and assets “tied to stolen Bangladeshi funds, including those linked to individuals with connections to the previous regime” and if it is proven they have benefited from embezzlement “we expect those assets to be returned to Bangladesh, where they rightfully belong”.
“Tulip Siddiq may not have entirely understood the source of the money and property that she was enjoying in London, but she knows now and should seek forgiveness from the people of Bangladesh,” he added.
Singer Linda Nolan, who rose to fame alongside her sisters in The Nolans, has died after several years of battling cancer.
The Irish star, 65, and her sisters Coleen, Maureen, Bernie, Denise and Anne, had a run of hits in the late 1970s and ’80s – including the disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing.
Paying tribute on The Nolans‘ X account, her sisters described her as “a pop icon and beacon of hope”, who “faced incurable cancer with courage, grace and determination, inspiring millions”.
Linda died peacefully in hospital this morning, “embraced with love and comfort” with her siblings by her side, her agent Dermot McNamara said in a statement.
“As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide, touring the world and selling over 30 million records,” he said.
“Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.
“Beyond her incredible career, Linda dedicated her life to helping others, helping raise over £20m for numerous charities, including Breast Cancer Now, Irish Cancer Society and Samaritans, amongst countless others. Her selflessness and tireless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others will forever be a cornerstone of her legacy.”
Five of the Nolans in 1983 (L-R): Linda, Anne, Bernie, Coleen and Maureen. Pic: PA
Linda’s death came after she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia over the weekend. She began receiving end-of-life care after slipping into a coma on Tuesday, Mr McNamara said.
Details of a celebration of the star’s “remarkable life” will be shared in due course, he added.
Linda was born to Tommy and Maureen Nolan in Dublin on 23 February 1959, the sixth of eight children.
Her parents were both singers and keen to turn their young family into a musical troupe. Linda made her stage debut aged just four.
Those early years put the siblings on track for a career in show business which lasted for decades. As well as I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans had hits with Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and Don’t Make Waves, and they also had their own TV specials.
At their height, they toured with Frank Sinatra and were reported to have outsold The Beatles in Japan.
Linda left the group in 1983, but later reformed with her sisters for several comeback performances. She also became known for musical theatre, most notably performing the role of Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers for three years from 2000.
L-R: Bernie, Denise, Linda (top), Anne and Maureen Nolan pictured in 1975, before youngest sister Coleen joined the group
Four siblings struck by cancer
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, and underwent a mastectomy to remove her left breast two days before her 47th birthday.
After being given the all-clear in 2011, in 2017 she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. Three years later, Linda and Anne together revealed they were being treated for cancer once again.
The sisters were diagnosed with different forms of the disease just days apart after they returned home from filming a series of their show, The Nolans Go Cruising. Linda had cancer of the liver, while Anne had breast cancer.
The star, pictured last year, had battled cancer for several years. Pic: Shutterstock
They went on to write Stronger Together, an account of their journey that included frank details of their treatments and the side effects.
But in 2023, Linda revealed the cancer had spread to her brain and she was beginning treatment as part of a new drug trial.
The Nolans lost their second-youngest sister, Bernie, to cancer in 2013, aged 52.
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan also revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer last year, and said she was using a chemotherapy cream to remove it.
Linda’s husband of 26 years, Brian Hudson, died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer.
Anne Nolan is now cancer-free.
Tributes to star ‘who was always a joy’
TV star and singer Cheryl Baker and comedian Tommy Cannon are among those who have paid tribute.
“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Linda Nolan,” Cannon wrote on X. “I had the pleasure of working with her on so many occasions, and she was always a joy – full of warmth and love. My thoughts and love are with the Nolan girls and the whole family.”
“The most incredible voice, the wickedest sense of humour, such a massive talent,” Baker wrote. “You’re with Brian now, Lin.”
Loose Women also sent its love to her family. Linda appeared as a guest panellist on the ITV chat show over the years, alongside her sister Coleen.
The Blackpool Grand Theatre described her as “a true Blackpool icon”.
Two teenagers and a woman have been arrested after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a bus in southeast London.
Kelyan Bokassa was on the 472 service in Woolwich when he was attacked just before 2.30pm on Tuesday 7 January.
The teenager died at the scene shortly after medical help arrived.
Two boys, aged 15 and 16, were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder, and a 44-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
All three remain in custody, the Metropolitan Police said.
Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee said: “While these arrests mark a significant step forward in this investigation, we continue to appeal for anyone with information about Kelyan’s murder to come forward and speak to us.
“I would like to thank officers for working around the clock in order to locate our suspects and praise the Woolwich community for their ongoing support and patience whilst we have carried out our investigation.
“I know that this incident deeply affected you all, and I hope that these two arrests reassure you that we are doing everything to tackle violent offenders across London.”
Anti-knife campaigner Faron Paul speaking during a vigil held for Kelyan last week. Pic: PA
The Metropolitan Police called the stabbing a “horrific attack”, while London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said the “heartbreaking violence has absolutely no place in our city”.
Kelyan was an aspiring rapper, who was described as having “briefly” been a student at St Columbia’s Catholic Boys School in Bexleyheath.
Following his death, his mother Mary Bokassa described his troubled childhood to journalists.
She said he was taken into care, moved from school to school, and eventually fell into the clutches of criminal gangs.
Read more from Sky News:
Singer and TV personality Linda Nolan dies
Father denies murdering daughter during ‘play-fight’
Met Police officers were called to reports of a stabbing on a Route 472 bus at 2.28pm on 7 January on Woolwich Church Street, near its junction with the A205 South Circular Road.
Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended the scene.
Police say Kelyan’s family are being supported by specialist officers as the investigation “remains ongoing”.
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