Plaid hopeful resigns amid hospital row
THE Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate for Cardiff North has resigned, accusing the party of betraying local residents by changing its policy on a controversial plan to build a new cancer treatment centre.
Ashley Drake is also leaving the party after being a member for 37 years.
One of the central themes of his campaign has been opposition to a plan to build a new Velindre Hospital on green space known as the Northern Meadows, in Whitchurch.
With the support of his local party, Mr Drake argued that the new cancer treatment centre should be built near an acute hospital.
Earlier this month health minister Vaughan Gething approved the plan.
Mr Drake claims hundreds of Labour supporters had told him they’d be switching their support to him in May’s election.
But earlier this week Plaid’s Senedd group decided to scrap its existing policy for an inquiry into the project into one of support for the scheme to build on the Northern Meadows.
In a letter to current Plaid leader Adam Price, Mr Drake said: “I write to confirm my resignation as Plaid Cymru candidate for Cardiff North and as a member of Plaid Cymru.
“Having been a loyal member of Plaid for 37 years, a former member of staff, twice a Westminster candidate, and a Plaid councillor, this decision has not been taken lightly.
“The unacceptable actions of the Senedd group on Tuesday, however, have left me with no other choice.
“The fact that my agent, Dan Allsobrook, and campaign manager, Phil Nifield, have also both resigned today should tell you everything you need to know about the strength of feeling there is here about this matter.”
Mr Drake – who said he was “insulted” by the way the decision was made, claiming neither he nor Plaid Cardiff North had been consulted on it – added: “Plaid Cymru has betrayed its environmental principles in the name of political expediency. I cannot remain in a party with the double standards of calling for green spaces for all, and a Nature Act, on one day, before supporting the destruction of one of the last remaining wild meadows in northern Cardiff the next.
“You have also betrayed the 163 senior cancer specialists who have made clear, as has the Nuffield Trust, that the proposed model for the new centre is now out of date.
“Your knee-jerk short-termism has also now betrayed the cancer patients of south east Wales for decades to come, who will not now have the world-leading facility that was promised.”
With only a week to go before nominations close, Plaid will now have to pick a new candidate.
A Plaid Cymru spokesman said: “Plaid Cymru is in favour of delivering the best possible new cancer facility for south east Wales and is committed to delivering it as quickly as possible.
“It is very unfortunate that Ashley Drake has chosen to undermine his colleagues by misrepresenting the events of recent days.
“We accept his resignation and thank him for his contribution.”