Senedd called to act on 'existential crisis' of abuse
He told the Senedd: "It is getting worse by the day, and it really represents an existential crisis for our democracy and our society."
Mr Price said: "For our democracy to be effective, it has to be diverse.
"Diversity trumps ability.
"It's a piece of evidence in social science."
The former Plaid Cymru leader called for a focus on representation of trans women and men, a community "under siege," to ensure their voices are heard in the Senedd.
Mr Price highlighted harmful comments below news stories involving him in recent weeks.
"That certainly won't deter me and I hope it won't deter anyone else," he said.
"But we've got to do something about it collectively, haven't we?"
Labour's Hannah Blythyn expressed concerns that Wales could go backwards in terms of equality of representation at the next Senedd election.
Ms Blythyn told Senedd members: "I very much made an active decision when I had the opportunity to stand in this legislature because of the make-up – that there were more women here, that it was more representative."
Jane Hutt, Wales' social justice secretary, acknowledged the rise of abuse, harassment and intimidation towards politicians, candidates and campaigners.
She outlined voluntary diversity and inclusion guidance for political parties which aims to ensure democratic bodies are truly representative of all the people of Wales.
Ms Hutt said safety costs will be exempt from spending limits for Welsh elections.
Conservative Altaf Hussain warned guidance on equal representation risks crossing a dangerous line.
He said: "Equality of access cannot come just by bureaucratic diktats or targets."
Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams said progress on underrepresentation of women in politics has slowed, warning the voluntary guidance was published "far too late."
"Wales belongs to everyone," she said.
"Everyone must have a voice in our nation's future."
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South Wales Guardian
27 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Minister rejects calls for UK to recognise Palestinian state immediately
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle insisted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wants sovereignty agreed 'more than anyone' but said the status must be reached as part of a political process. It comes amid calls from both opposition critics and Labour ranks for the Government to support statehood after France became the biggest and most powerful European country to recognise Palestine. Speaking to broadcasters on Friday, Mr Kyle said the road to sovereignty was 'in the gift of Palestine and Israel' through ceasefire negotiations, adding that Britain's immediate focus was on helping to restore aid to Gaza. 'Keir Starmer wants this more than anyone else, but believes it is a crucial step towards delivering the peace and security into the future, and needs to be a negotiated peace within the region itself. It can't be forced,' he told Sky News. 'We want Palestinian statehood. We desire it, and we want to make sure the circumstances can exist where that kind of long-term political solution can have the space to evolve and make sure that it can become a permanent circumstance that can bring peace to the entire region. 'But right now, today, we've got to focus on what will ease the suffering, and it is extreme, unwarranted suffering in Gaza that has to be the priority for us today.' Downing Street has faced growing pressure over its stance on Palestinian statehood since French President Emmanuel Macron made his country the first G7 nation to recognise sovereignty. He said he would formalise the move at the UN General Assembly in September. Sir Keir has condemned the 'unspeakable and indefensible' conditions in Gaza ahead of an emergency call with Mr Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday, but stopped short of following suit. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the UK 'should be leading on this, not falling behind' while London's Labour Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has also called for immediate recognition. Emily Thornberry, Labour MP and chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said most of its members back the move, and the Trades Union Congress have called for formal recognition of Palestine 'now'. Some ministers have signalled a desire for hastened action, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting calling for recognition 'while there's still a state of Palestine left to recognise'. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Government wants to recognise a Palestinian state 'in contribution to a peace process'. She told The Times: 'A lot of people would argue that recognition on its own has a symbolic value that could send a strong message to the Israeli government.' Sir Keir said on Thursday: 'We are clear that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people. 'A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution which guarantees peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.' Charities operating in Gaza have said Israel's blockade and ongoing military offensive are pushing people there towards starvation, warning that they are seeing their own workers and Palestinians 'waste away'. Israel says it allows enough aid into the territory and faults delivery efforts by UN agencies, which say they are hindered by Israeli restrictions and the breakdown of security. The Prime Minister said: 'The suffering and starvation unfolding in Gaza is unspeakable and indefensible. 'While the situation has been grave for some time, it has reached new depths and continues to worsen. We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe.' He said it is 'hard to see a hopeful future in such dark times' but called again for all sides to engage 'in good faith, and at pace' on a ceasefire and the release of all hostages. 'We strongly support the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to secure this,' he said. Sir Keir will meet US President Donald Trump during his five-day private trip to Scotland, due to kick off on Friday. US-led peace talks in Qatar were cut short on Thursday, with Washington's special envoy Steve Witkoff accusing Hamas of a 'lack of desire to reach a ceasefire'. The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in phases in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Aid supplies would be ramped up and the two sides would hold negotiations on a lasting truce. Hamas-led militants based in Gaza abducted 251 people in the October 7 attack in 2023 that triggered the war and killed about 1,200 people. Fewer than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It does not distinguish between militants and civilians.
Telegraph
28 minutes ago
- Telegraph
SNP has ‘capitulated' on trans rights, Mhairi Black claims
The SNP has 'capitulated' over trans rights, former MP Mhairi Black has claimed. Ms Black, the former SNP Westminster deputy leader, quit the party as she criticised them for not being sufficiently Left-wing. The Scottish Government is under pressure to ditch its controversial self-ID legislation following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally biologically women. She is the latest name to quit SNP after Fergus Ewing announced he would stand as an independent at next year's Holyrood elections. It comes amid reports of a party rebellion against John Swinney's leadership following the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election defeat to Labour. Ms Black told The Herald newspaper: 'Basically, for a long time, I've not agreed with quite a few decisions that have been made. 'There have just been too many times when I've thought, 'I don't agree with what you've done there' or the decision or strategy that has been arrived at.' She added: 'I thought the party could be doing better about Palestine as well.' 'The party needs to change a lot more' The former MP said: 'If anything, I'm probably a bit more Left-wing than I have been. I don't think I have changed all that much. I feel like the party needs to change a lot more.' Ms Black was catapulted into the political limelight when she was elected to Westminster at the age of just 20 and became the youngest MP since 1832. She was elected as the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, ousting the former Labour cabinet secretary, Douglas Alexander, with her victory there coming as the SNP captured all but three of the seats in Scotland in the 2015 general election - the first since the independence vote in 2014. She later became her party's deputy leader in the House of Commons when Stephen Flynn took over as group leader, but stepped down at the 2024 general election, blaming the 'toxic' environment at Westminster. She was also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during her time at Westminster, saying previously that the condition was picked up after she became unwell with 'burn-out' during her time as an MP. 'A better, fairer Scotland' An SNP spokesman said: 'The SNP is the largest political party in Scotland, united under John Swinney's vision of creating a better, fairer Scotland for everyone. 'After a year of disappointment and let-downs from the UK Labour Government, it's clear that real change will never come from Westminster and that independence is essential for a better future.' It comes as Mr Swinney attempts to placate rebels by pledging to 'turn the heat up' on the UK Government to allow a second independence referendum. It was reported in June that the First Minister risked facing a leadership challenge at the SNP conference in October unless he came up with a new strategy to achieve Scottish independence. After taking over last year, Mr Swinney won praise for overseeing a recovery in the SNP's fortunes following the troubled final months of Nicola Sturgeon's premiership and Humza Yousaf's tenure. However, grumbling about his leadership has increased since June's Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse Scottish Parliament by-election, when Labour pulled off a shock victory after the SNP's vote share fell.
Sky News
34 minutes ago
- Sky News
At least 125 MPs sign cross-party letter demanding Starmer recognise Palestine as a state
Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, with at least 125 MPs signing a cross-party letter demanding he take the step. The letter is being organised by the Labour backbencher Sarah Champion, who also sits as the International Development Committee Chair. They write: "British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former Mandatory Power in Palestine". "Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people under that Mandate." 1:20 Earlier this month, nearly 60 Labour MPs called on David Lammy and the Foreign Office to immediately recognise Palestine as a state in a private letter, but this new call shows how dissatisfied many still are with the government's refusal to change its stance on the issue. Late last night Number 10 released a statement on Gaza calling the situation "unspeakable and indefensible," but a growing number of Labour backbenchers fear it's not enough. In light of a tweet by the French President Emmanuel Macron also sent last night declaring France would recognise a Palestinian state in September at a UN conference, a number of MPs now say Number 10's current position is untenable. "They had said they wanted to be in lockstep with allies, but this means that position won't hold," said one Labour MP. 8:07 Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, this morning defended the government's resistance to calls for immediate UK recognition of a Palestinian state. "We want Palestinian statehood. We desire it, and we want to make sure the circumstances can exist where that kind of long-term political solution can have the space to evolve and make sure that it can become a permanent circumstance that can bring peace to the entire region," he told Sky News. "But right now, today, we've got to focus on what will ease the suffering, and it is extreme, unwarranted suffering in Gaza that has to be the priority for us today." 2:10 An emergency call with Germany and France is scheduled for today to discuss what Sir Keir described as a "human catastrophe" which has "reached new depths". The Foreign Office have maintained they are committed to recognising a Palestinian state but have expressed a willingness to do so only when it will have the "most impact in support of a peace process". They say: "We continue to provide lifesaving aid to support Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to work closely in support of the Palestinian Authority." A Downing Street spokesperson also confirmed their position on Palestinian statehood remains unchanged.
