Skip to main content

Plaid Cymru AMs opposed to Neil McEvoy joining party


Plaid Cymru assembly members are opposed to Neil McEvoy's application to re-join the party, BBC Wales understands.
New details have emerged of allegations that led the party's AMs to expel him from their Senedd group last year.
A document seen by Newyddion 9 alleged Mr McEvoy had accused a colleague of racism based on an untrue allegation and made staff feel uncomfortable.
Mr McEvoy said he could not reply to the claims because of confidentiality.
The South Wales Central AM was expelled from the party's assembly group in January 2018. He was later expelled from Plaid for 12 months following an investigation into his conduct.
It is understood that his former colleagues in the party group oppose his bid to be reinstated as a Plaid member, although leader Adam Price has not been involved in any discussions between the assembly members.
One AM said it would be "impracticable" for Mr McEvoy to rejoin the party and not the Welsh Assembly group.
Evidence submitted to Plaid Cymru's general council, shown to Newyddion 9, has revealed the extent of the apparent breakdown in the relationship between Mr McEvoy and Plaid AMs between 2016 and 2018.
In the document, which explains the decision to expel him from the group, the AMs claimed Mr McEvoy had:
  • threatened to resign in the first group meeting after the 2016 election
  • made an unfounded claim that ex-leader Leanne Wood told the group that non-whites were deliberately excluded from air time in the Westminster election
  • accused a colleague of racism based on an untrue allegation
  • undermined a member of staff in an email with a journalist
  • adopted an aggressive tone
  • submitted a Subject Access Request to Leanne Wood, Rhun ap Iorwerth, Dai Lloyd and Bethan Sayed asking for "all personal data about me"
  • made staff feel uncomfortable
Mr McEvoy said: "I'm unable to comment as I respect the confidentiality of the (application) process".
Heledd Gwyndaf, a member of Plaid Cymru, defended his right to rejoin the party.
She said: "Neil McEvoy is a hard-working, principled and very effective AM; and if Plaid Cymru want to win the next assembly elections in 2021 and if Adam Price is to become the first minister of Wales, then I think they have to get Neil McEvoy back".
"But the real story here is why has this story been released to the press... and for what purpose," she added.
Mr McEvoy launched a bid to rejoin Plaid Cymru earlier this year.
The decision fell to a disciplinary committee, which failed to reach a decision when it met to consider Mr McEvoy's request to return to Plaid Cymru.
It was set to hold another meeting, but following leaks to the press the committee asked party bosses to wind it up and find new members.
BBC Wales understands the committee has been disbanded - delaying Mr McEvoy's bid to rejoin the party.


Popular posts from this blog

Ed Davey writes: I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories

  we wrap up the Liberal Democrat leadership election, I wanted to thank the thousands of people who have taken part in hustings, sent in questions to the campaigns and engaged in this contest. Itā€™s absolutely right that there is a robust process that properly tests our next leader, and makes sure that whoever wins on Thursday has been put through their paces by the party. Whatever happens later this week, I know that Liberal Democrats will come together and turn our hand to doing what we do best, getting out campaigning and standing up for communities up and down the country. If you havenā€™t returned your ballot yet then there is still time to vote for me so that we can rebuild our party on solid foundations, and campaign for a fairer, greener and more caring society. Thatā€™s my vision for the future of our party, and I know Iā€™ve got the experience we need to deliver it.  With your support, I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories, and put ...

Jane Dodds - Aberpergwm Coal Mine Expansion Must be Stopped

  he Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their opposition to the expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine in Neath Port Talbot Council. Addressing a protest in front of the Senedd Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds stated that if we are to stand any hope of tackling climate change before itā€™s too late, the coal must be left in the ground.   The protest in front of the Senedd in Cardiff saw multiple Welsh climate groups attend.   The expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine has been at the centre of a row between the UK and Welsh Governments, with the Welsh Government claiming it does not have the legal authority to block the mineā€™s expansion, while the UK Coal Authority has insisted that the Welsh Government could in fact stop the development.   The new license, which was approved by the Coal Authority in January will allow Aberpergwm Mine to extract another forty million tonnes of coal. The development could release up to 1.17 million tonnes of very strong g...

New Zealand Trade Deal Will Damage Rural Communities

Responding to the news that the UK Government has concluded the signing of a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said the deal will cause damage to rural communities and the Welsh agricultural industry. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said: "The UK Government has negotiated a trade agreement that will actively damage Welsh farming communities and will bring next to no tangible benefits to our local economies.   "The Conservatives have proven that they are utterly unable to negotiate trade deals that boost the UK economy and unfortunately this agreement is no exception. The economic benefits are a drop in the ocean, and they will do nothing to mitigate the damage from the red tape and paperwork caused by Boris Johnson's shambolic EU trade deal. "Instead of delivering Global Britain, this Government is selling Welsh farmers...