Election leaflets may be in breach of rules – claim

TENS of thousands of election leaflets distributed across Cardiff may be in breach of Senedd rules, it has been claimed.

Some of the leaflets support candidates from the “Common Ground” alliance between the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, while others back Welsh Labour candidates in tomorrow’s Cardiff council election.

The Common Ground leaflets have MS Rhys ab Owen as the sole Plaid point of contact, giving the telephone number of his taxpayerfunded office in the Senedd.

Meanwhile, Welsh Labour “calling cards” left at the homes of residents in the Canton district of the city for voters who are out when party canvassers call carry the mobile phone numbers of the local candidates as well as a councillor who is retiring – but they also carry the constituency office phone number of First Minister Mark Drakeford and MP Kevin Brennan.

In the city’s Cathays ward, the mobile phone numbers of local Labour candidates are included – but so are the contact numbers for Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens and the seat’s MS Jenny Rathbone.

Under rules laid down by the Senedd, it is strictly forbidden to use Senedd offices for party political purposes.

The Common Ground leaflets give the email address of the Wales Green Party for voters as a contact point, which is wholly in line with the rules. But they also carry the Senedd office phone number for Mr ab Owen, who represents the South Wales Central region.

A document titled Rules and Guidance on the Use of Senedd Resources states: “Items and facilities acquired with Commission resources or provided by the Commission for the use of Members must only be used in connection with a Member’s duties.”

The guidance explains further: “Without prejudice to the generality of this Rule, the use of items or facilities for any of the following activities would breach this Rule and so are prohibited:

personal, business or commercial activities or communications; party political activity; and/or

other activities resulting in financial gain to the Member or any other person.”

A Welsh Labour source said: “Asking voters to call a taxpayerfunded office instead of giving candidate contact details is clearly a breach of the rules.

“The leaflet is clearly inviting voters to telephone Mr ab Owen’s staff at his Senedd office to discuss matters relating to the local election campaign. This is an abuse of Senedd resources.

“Our leaflets and calling cards carry the names and mobile phone numbers of the local candidates. Electing people who respect the rules has never been more important.”

In February former MS Neil McEvoy was criticised by the Senedd’s Standards Commissioner for misusing his taxpayer-funded office for party political purposes.

A Plaid Cymru spokesman said: “This is rank hypocrisy by a Labour party in Cardiff who are devoid of ideas, out of touch and running out of time. The precedent of leaving Senedd contact details and constituency office phone numbers on election literature was set by the First Minister himself (and Cardiff West Labour MP) and replicated by Labour in Cathays where residents have this week received leaflets with the constituency office number of both the MP and MS.

“While Labour would rather divert attention from its lack of delivery in the capital, Plaid Cymru and Green Party candidates across the city are focused on making the positive case for change.”

The Senedd Commission sent us a link to the relevant set of rules, but did not wish to comment.