Wales 20mph: Labour MP backs law after 'bonkers' comment

Chris Bryant said he had called some local decisions in Rhondda as bonkers

A Labour MP has said he supports the Welsh government's 20mph law, after telling a television programme that in some areas it was "bonkers".

On BBC Question Time last Thursday, Rhondda MP Sir Chris Bryant said: "There are some areas where it's just a bit, frankly, bonkers.

"You go from 20 to 30 back to 20," he said, calling for a "full review".

On Tuesday, Sir Chris told BBC Wales he had been criticising local decisions rather than the overall scheme.

Wales became the first UK nation to make its default speed limit 20mph (30km/h) rather than 30mph (50km/h) in September.

The change applies on all restricted roads - defined as roads with lampposts placed not more than 200 yards (about 180m) apart.

These are typically found in residential and built-up areas with high numbers of pedestrians.

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The MP was responding to an exchange during First Minister's Questions in the Senedd, in which Labour First Minister Mark Drakeford told the Welsh Parliament that Mr Bryant supported the scheme.

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives in Cardiff Bay, Andrew RT Davies, had brought up Mr Bryant's Question Time comments.

But Mr Drakeford said: "I can assure you that he did not say what the leader of the opposition says."

The first minister also picked up on a different section of Sir Chris's comments on the programme and read them out.

Quoting the MP, he said: "Everybody believes that outside a school and a hospital, and a clinic, and a chemist and in some residential areas it should be 20mph.

"The thing is, that's nearly every road in the Rhondda."

Mr Davies accused the first minister of "having selective hearing."

The new speed limit has now been in place for nearly two months

Responding to the exchange later, Sir Chris told BBC Wales: "The first minister is right. I did not describe the scheme as bonkers.

"I described some of the local decisions in the Rhondda, where roads go 20-30-20, as bonkers, which is why I support the review of the guidance that Lee Waters [the Welsh government's deputy climate change minister] has announced.

"Andrew RT Davies is wrong."

Mr Drakeford also confirmed that he has WhatsApp on his phone, and makes use of it, in response to a different question from Mr Davies.

It follows his comments to the Senedd last week that he did not use the messaging app, after revealing that some government figures might have deleted messages during the pandemic.

He had already written to the presiding officer to clarify that he had WhatsApp on his Senedd-issued mobile.

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