Welsh Tory accused of misogyny for GB News hair jibe

The leader of the Welsh Tories in the Senedd has been accused of "appalling misogyny" for comments on GB News.

In a Nigel Farage programme, Andrew RT Davies joked that Presiding Officer Elin Jones was too "busy doing her hair" to come on to the show.

The institution has been at the centre of a row over the channel after Ms Jones remove it from the Senedd television system.

Mr Davies said the accusation from a senior Labour minister was "desperate".

On Wednesday night the channel's Nigel Farage programme broadcast from the Llandaff and Ely RAFA Club in Cardiff.

The show also projected an advert on to the side of the Senedd on Tuesday night.

On the programme, Mr Farage said they had invited Ms Jones on, but "we got no answer at all".

"Busy doing her hair," Mr Davies replied.

He added: "It's about control at the end of the day, because obviously they don't want any dissenting voices as they see, or alternative voice in their parliament."

BBC Wales was told the Senedd had received a request for Ms Jones to appear on Farage, but the show was told she was not available.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Labour Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: "This is absolutely appalling misogyny from [Andrew RT Davies], who should apologise immediately to the Llywydd."

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said Mr Davies had shown an "appalling lack of respect".

"He wears his misoginy [sic] with either pride or total lack of awareness," he added.

In a statement Mr Davies said: "This is desperate from Labour and Plaid. It's an expression used by many Welsh people, something I've said about men, women and even myself.

"If Labour and Plaid think this is today's top issue, that's up to them."

Farage was filmed in Cardiff after the Welsh Parliament decided to take GB News off its internal television system - used by staff and Senedd members to follow proceedings in the Senedd and view TV channels.

A spokesperson for Presiding Officer Elin Jones said it followed a recent broadcast which was "deliberately offensive", referring to comments by Laurence Fox about female journalist Ava Evans.

The Senedd and Elin Jones declined to comment.