Elis-Thomas swore in the Senedd, claims Plaid
FORMER Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas, who left the party last year, has been accused by a former colleague of swearing during a National Assembly debate.
According to Plaid’s economy spokesman Adam Price, Lord ElisThomas pointed at him and other Plaid AMs, calling them a “bunch of right-wing sh**s”.
The comment, which does not appear on the Assembly’s official Record of Proceedings, was allegedly made during a debate about plans for a “super-prison” in Port Talbot.
Presiding Officer Elin Jones has been asked to rule whether Lord Elis-Thomas – one of her predecessors – used “appropriate parliamentary language”.
The peer has not commented on the claim.
In an email to Ms Jones, Mr Price said: “Yesterday, during the debate on the Port Talbot prison, I clearly heard Dafydd Elis-Thomas pointing from his seat at the Plaid Cymru benches and shouting ‘that bunch of right-wing sh**s’.
“[Welsh Conservative leader] Andrew RT Davies was sitting in front of Dafydd Elis-Thomas at the time, and he has confirmed to me that he heard the comment by the member.
“I would like your judgment as to whether this comment is appropriate parliamentary language, and if not, which appropriate steps will be taken.”
In October 2016 Lord Elis-Thomas, who represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd, quit Plaid to become an Independent AM after a difficult relationship with party leader Leanne Wood.
He had previously been sacked as a committee chair by Ms Wood after criticising party policy.
A spokeswoman for the Presiding Officer confirmed that she had received the complaint.
Later Mr Davies criticised Mr Price for involving him in the row.
He said: “I am incredibly disappointed that Adam Price has chosen to associate my name with what is essentially an internal spat between the Plaid Cymru Group and its former leader.
“Adam Price’s unwarranted use of my name in respect of this event is the height of bad protocol, and something from which I wish to disassociate myself entirely. With an internal war still raging within the Plaid Cymru group, I would appreciate it if I could be left out of any future spats they choose to embroil themselves in.”
Under the Aassembly’s standing orders, AMs must not engage in “discourteous or unbecoming conduct” or use “disorderly, discriminatory or offensive language or language which detracts from the dignity of the Assembly”.
The Presiding Officer has the power to suspend an offending AM for a day, during which they lose their salary.