The Conservatives in Wales have been accused of "hypocrisy" after one of its Senedd members flew to Ukraine. Darren Millar is helping distribute bibles.
Darren Millar works as a chief executive for an evangelical Christian organisation as well as his job as an Member of the Senedd. In addition to his near £70,000 a year serving the people of Clwyd West, Mr Millar also works up to 20 hours a week for the Pocket Testament League. This group appears to be driven to promote their version of Christianity around the UK. Their website reads: "Only 6% of UK adults consider themselves practicing Christians. Together we’re on a mission to change this statistic, one person at a time." In March 2022 a WalesOnline investigation found that Mr Millar was likely receiving £8,000 a year for this role.
Mr Millar posted a blog on the Pocket Testament League website on June 28 where he wrote: "I am writing to you this week from Ukraine, a nation at war. Our partners here have been busy distributing 150,000 Gospels of John to people across the country. Pastors tell me that in spite of the conflict churches here are growing and people are hungry for God’s Word."
Read more: Tory MS has a second job as a chief executive of organisation to convert people to Christianity
He signs off by saying "Your brother, Darren" before adding "PS Many refugees from Ukraine have now arrived in the UK. Why not order some Ukrainian Gospels of John to share with those in your community?"
Just before the start of the war Plaid leader Adam Price and Welsh Labour Senedd Member Mick Antoniw were criticised by the Tories for making a trip to Ukraine. Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart told the Commons' Welsh Affairs committee that the trip was a "distraction" and created confusion about what was a devolved matter and what wasn't. He said: "It starts blurring the lines between reserved and devolved competencies. And worst of all, in that particular instance ether's a real chance it poses a significant risk" adding "that kind of thing where there is a breach of the established protocols it is deeply unhelpful".
Welsh Conservatives were also quick to criticise the pair back in February. Conservative MS James Evans said Senedd politicians had "no role to play in this matter" whereas the Vale of Clwyd's Gareth Davies, said the "dangerous trip" was "reckless".
Responding to the news a Plaid Cymru source told WalesOnline said: “This is another example of how it’s one rule for the Tories and another for the rest of us. To have previously been so openly critical of other Members of Senedd visiting Ukraine, when one of their own is doing the very same, is Tory hypocrisy at its most blatant.”
Mr Millar was not the Senedd for a vote on Tuesday, June 28 or in First Minister's Questions. WalesOnline approached Mr Millar for comment but he did not responded.
A Welsh Conservative Senedd spokesman said: "Darren was invited by Ukrainian parliamentarians to Kyiv. He was paired in the same way parliamentarians from all parties use the pairing system on a regular basis."
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