New political party has to alter name

ANEW Welsh political party has been told it has to change its name just days after being registered.

The Welsh National Party was registered with the Electoral Commission on January 15.

An alternative name was also provided – the Welsh translation Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru – but it was decided that was too similar to other political parties.

The leader is Neil McEvoy, the former Plaid Cymru AM and councillor, recently suspended from sitting on Cardiff council. He has appealed against that decision.

Nominating officer is Keith Parry, a Cardiff councillor elected to Plaid Cymru but who later resigned, and treasurer is Matthew Ford, a member of Mr McEvoy’s staff.

Its address is registered in Cowbridge Road West in Cardiff.

Three emblems were approved – a map of Wales and two dragon emblems.

A spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission said: “The Welsh National Party application met the requirements for registration under law. As such, the party was registered. They subsequently applied to register the name Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru.

“We rejected this name because it was likely to result in voters confusing it with another party’s name.

“The Electoral Commission is responsible for registering political parties in the UK. Political parties must register names, descriptions and emblems with us for use on ballot papers. The rules are in place to make ballot papers clear and easy to use.

“A party may apply for both a Welsh and English name to be the party’s registered names. The names must meet the statutory requirements before they can be registered.”

A Plaid Cymru source said: “The Electoral Commission adjudication proves there is only one true Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru”.

Yesterday, Mr McEvoy said the Electoral Commission’s decision was “strange”.

He said: “We will be known as Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru in our national language, whatever appears on a ballot paper.”