Plaid resignations come as no surprise

I AM compelled to respond to two assertions made by the chairman of Plaid Cymru, Alun Ffred Jones, in the article entitled “Plaid comes under fire for how it handled complaints” (Western Mail, January 18). In it he says “Neil should read the party’s standing orders”.

Alun Ffred was present at Plaid Cymru’s Llanelli constituency committee meeting on September 19, 2017, and on no fewer than four occasions during the meeting I pointed out that in managing the meeting the committee’s newly appointed chairman was not complying with Plaid standing orders.

I repeatedly read out the ones being flouted and understandably raised my voice in frustration on the fourth occasion. Alun Ffred said absolutely nothing, ignoring and failing to uphold Plaid Cymru’s standing orders. Now he has the cheek to tell Neil McEvoy to read the party’s standing orders.

Alun Ffred then says “there was a long delay in holding the (Neil McEvoy disciplinary) panel meeting...” I wasn’t afforded the luxury of a disciplinary panel meeting when I received a letter from Plaid’s chief executive, Gareth Clubb, dated October 4, 2017, stating Alun Ffred had single-handedly suspended me from Plaid Cymru with immediate effect for an indefinite period for an undisclosed reason. I was given no opportunity whatsoever to defend myself.

Finally, I received a letter dated November 8 from Gareth Clubb stating Alun Ffred had expelled me from Plaid for threatening behaviour (raising my voice!). It follows that Alun Ffred has expelled me from the party because he failed to do his duty of upholding his own party’s standing orders at the September meeting – for had he done so I wouldn’t have raised my voice. Banning me was, of course, a very effective way of silencing me (and another Plaid activist, Meilyr Hughes, who Alun Ffred also banned).

On January 17, Simon Thomas AM admitted that the recent application of Plaid Cymru’s disciplinary procedures has been appalling. This is also an apt description of some of the events permitted and endorsed by the Cardiff-based Plaid leadership in the Llanelli constituency since April 2017.

Some of their actions have been so deplorable that – in spite of being a Plaid member and quite an industrious activist for 44 years and a Plaid county councillor for 28 years – I tendered my resignation from the party in a letter to Gareth Clubb dated December 13, 2017.

Moreover, at least 15 active Plaid members in the constituency have also resigned – more will undoubtedly follow. Gwyn Hopkins Llangennech, Llanelli