An MP who assaulted his wife should quit and leave Plaid Cymru, the party leader has said.

Jonathan Edwards, the MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, was suspended from the party in July 2020 after assaulting his wife but was readmitted on Thursday.

He has said he will not rejoin the Plaid Cymru group of MPs at Westminster to allow for a “period of calm reflection”.

His wife, Emma Edwards, had criticised the decision to readmit him, saying she was “appalled”. The couple are divorcing.

The move was also opposed by a “significant majority” of the party’s ruling body.

Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru leader, called on Mr Edwards to step down as an MP and promised a review of the party’s disciplinary procedures to be carried out as a matter of “urgency”.

“As stated, it is my firm belief that Jonathan Edwards cannot continue to represent Plaid Cymru in Westminster and should resign immediately,” Mr Price said on Twitter.

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“I also call on Jonathan Edwards to leave the party. His actions do not represent our values and his position as an MP sends the wrong message out to domestic abuse survivors in Wales and beyond.”

Mr Edwards accepted a police caution for the assault in May 2020.

He described it as an “isolated incident” and said he had subsequently enrolled on a domestic violence awareness course in a statement on his Facebook page.

He expressed concern there was no space in public life for those who had made mistakes to show “genuine remorse” and criticised his treatment by some members of the party.

“Over the past two years there have been periods when I have felt suicidal as my personal and professional life crumbled and I was offered no safeguarding by the party,” he said.

“I am also concerned that in recent weeks senior politicians within the party have misused their positions of power by subjecting me to vindictive and vengeful coordinated political attacks.”

He has represented Carmarthen East and Dinefwr since 2010.

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