AM McEvoy will appeal against Plaid suspension

ASSEMBLY Member Neil McEvoy will appeal against his suspension from Plaid Cymru.

The South Wales Central AM was suspended from the Plaid Cymru group for the second time this year in September.

Under Plaid Cymru standing orders, an Assembly Member suspended from the Assembly group can make an appeal to the party’s National Executive Committee to be reinstated.

He has said that he understands the National Executive Committee will hear the appeal on November 18.

Mr McEvoy said: “I have made an appeal to Plaid Cymru’s National Executive Committee to be reinstated to the National Assembly group. I’ve also informed the chair, the chief executive, and the Assembly group’s chief whip of my decision. Through this appeal I hope to make a positive return to the Plaid Cymru group.”

The primary cause of his suspension was comments he had made opposing the party’s policy on the right of council tenants to buy their homes.

Plaid supports the Welsh Government’s view that the right should be removed because it has depleted the supply of social housing, while Mr McEvoy thinks it should remain because it has provided the means for many working class people to buy their own homes.

After his suspension Plaid leader Leanne Wood accused Mr McEvoy, who is also a councillor in Cardiff, of being “impossible to work with” because of his “character, demeanour and attitude”.

She wrote the comments in response to Plaid members who had spoken out in support of McEvoy.

In a message to Plaid members she wrote: “There is a process under way and there is a limit to what I can say or write. I can confirm he has been suspended for breaching a code of conduct.

“This code of conduct was in place following his previous suspension upon being found guilty of bullying by the Local Government Ombudsman.

“Over the summer that code of conduct, as well as many of our group’s standing orders, were breached.

“His character, demeanour, and attitude have proven impossible for our group to work with. The decision to suspend him was taken by the group, and this decision was taken unanimously. You may not be aware that Neil McEvoy is also facing further allegations which include bullying allegations which are still to be dealt with by the party.

“There are many matters of which party members will not be aware, which I am unable to elaborate on in this email, but which I am sure will come to light in due course.”

In March Mr McEvoy was suspended after being found to have bullied a council officer. He was readmitted after issuing an apology.

A Plaid Cymru spokesman said: “We can confirm that Neil McEvoy has notified us of his intention to appeal his suspension from the Plaid Cymru Assembly Group.

“It would not be appropriate for us to make any further comment.”