Councillor suspended after 'serial dad' revelations during Channel 4 documentary
The Welsh Conservative Party has suspended councillor Nick Baneswell following revelations about his participation in a Channel 4 documentary.
Mr Baneswell, 47, who represents Rogerstone North on Newport City Council, said both he and his local Tory colleagues remain unaware of the specific reasons behind his suspension.
A party spokesman confirmed: "Nick has been suspended from the Conservative Party pending an investigation. As this is an ongoing and confidential process, it would be inappropriate to comment further."
The councillor had only recently secured his seat, winning the Rogerstone North by-election on May 8 with 597 votes, comfortably defeating Plaid Cymru's Iestyn Davies, who received 287 votes.
Just four days after his electoral victory, Nation.Cymru revealed his appearance in 2021's "Only Human" about so-called "serial dads".
The show featured four men who had collectively fathered more than 70 children with over 40 different women.
Mr Baneswell, who appeared under his real name, Nick Portman, spoke openly about having 10 children and three grandchildren from relationships with five women.
The pub landlord told cameras he had "never carried a condom" in his life, adding with a grin: "It was just, things happen, and I enjoy."
Footage from the programme showed Mr Baneswell interacting with a young woman whose face had been obscured by the producers.
The documentary also introduced viewers to Mr Baneswell's fiancée, Lauren, who was 20 years old at the time of filming and had first met him when she was 17.
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The couple, separated by 27 years in age, became engaged just three months into their relationship.
Lauren, a mother of one, described her partner as "one of the most flirtiest" men she had ever encountered, expressing her difficulties watching him interact with women at work.
Footage captured Mr Baneswell embracing several blonde bar staff members while introducing them on camera.
Discussing their relationship, he stated: "You know, if I want to go out, I'm going out."
When Lauren revealed she would remain with him despite his infidelity, Mr Baneswell suggested she had "no choice".
The couple have since separated.
His election agent Jake Enea, a former Senedd candidate, initially released a statement claiming the party had no prior knowledge of the documentary.
Mr Enea also confirmed an internal investigation had commenced.
Mr Baneswell said in a statement said of his suspension: “Myself and the Conservative Party in Newport do not know why.
“At the moment we are in the dark and have sent off emails.”
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