Conservative candidate criticised over malaria comment
A WELSH Conservative Senedd candidate has been criticised for comments he made on Twitter about a vaccine for malaria.
Edward Dawson is the Tory candidate for Blaenau Gwent in the Senedd elections taking place on May 6.
Mr Dawson, who was born in Carlisle but now lives in Merthyr Tydfil, was responding to a tweet from the Prime Minister which shared an article suggesting there had been a breakthrough in the search for a malaria vaccine.
In response Mr Dawson wrote: “Good work, but isn’t it also nature’s way of controlling human population growth?”
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through mosquito bites.
The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 409,000 in 2019 with children aged under five the most vulnerable accounting for 67%
(274 000) of all malaria deaths worldwide.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the hardest hit part of the world accounting for 90% of all cases.
The tweet came the day after First Minister Mark Drakeford said that the success of the vaccine rollout in Wales meant that lockdowns may not be needed in the future.
Mr Dawson has been actively campaigning in Blaenau Gwent where the Tories won just 6% of the vote last time.
A Plaid Cymru spokeswoman said: “This comment – both sinister and disturbing – shows that Mr Dawson is not fit for public office.”
Mr Dawson did not respond to the Western Mail’s approach for comment.
A Welsh Conservative spokesman said: “We can confirm this matter is under investigation by the Conservative Party.”