Monmouth MP David Davies has come under fire for missing a Welsh Affairs Committee meeting due to illness, but appeared in the House of Commons only a couple of hours later.

BBC Cymru reporter Elliw Gwawr spotted Mr Davies during Prime Minister’s Questions on December 8 after he had said he was too sick for an interview that afternoon, and following his absence from the Welsh Affairs Committee meeting.Labour group leader of Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) Dimitri Batrouni told the Beacon: "I think it is reasonable to ask David Davies for an explanation. If he was too ill to attend the Welsh Affairs Committee and an interview with the BBC, why was he risking passing on a highly infectious and very unpleasant illness to the hundreds of people with whom he was mingling closely in parliament? If he was ill, I’m very sorry and hope he’s now recovered, but why did he turn up in the House of Commons just to support Boris Johnson? If he wasn’t ill and it was fine for him to attend, what was the excuse for not attending the committee, where he was supposed to be held to account? He can’t have it both ways and until we get an explanation I have to say that this does not reflect well on our local MP and his attitude to his job."As a result of the public backlash Mr Davies released a statement to explain the situation.Mr Davies said: "Yesterday at 11am I had to run out of a meeting to be physically sick, I was physically sick again on a further two occasions during the day, I took a covid test which was clear, I cancelled all meetings for yesterday, and today, including the Welsh Affairs session. I was only playing a supporting role in the Welsh Affairs meeting as it was focused on DWP matters and was being led by another minister. I returned to my hotel missing the last vote on the advice of the deputy chief whip. This morning I woke up at around 9am. This is extremely unusual as I normally get up at 6.30am and go to the gym. I felt a lot better. I felt well enough to go into work - although it was much later than usual. I attended PMQs and I am currently in work but not undertaking major meetings. I suspect that I probably had a case of food poisoning."He added: "I do not like talking about personal matters and illnesses. I very rarely get ill as my record shows. Today as a result of comments by a BBC reporter I have been forced to discuss my personal health something which I find very disappointing. I hope any story will make clear that I have been forced to discuss my personal health and it is not something I wished to do."