THE LEADER of the Conservative opposition was given a slap on the wrists after a committee found his “false” social media posts brought the Senedd into disrepute.

Andrew RT Davies was formally reprimanded by fellow Senedd members following an investigation into a tweet describing 20mph as a “blanket” policy.

Douglas Bain, the standards commissioner, concluded Mr Davies breached the code of conduct by continuing to use the term despite a ruling it was “imprecise and inaccurate”.

The Tory was found to have brought the Senedd into disrepute but cleared of breaking rules on honesty, with Mr Bain saying: “I am satisfied it was not his intention to deceive anyone.”

In his report, Mr Bain wrote: “When he posted the tweet the member knew – or ought to have known that – although it was not untruthful or dishonest, it was false.”

The politician, who has led the Tory group in two stints since 2011, did not attend the debating chamber or Siambr on November 6 as his peers agreed to censure him.

Hannah Blythyn, who chairs the standards committee, raised concerns about a steady increase in complaints about Senedd members’ conduct on social media.

She said: “I would like to take this opportunity to remind members: while we recognise that social media is a tool that has the potential to be used effectively for communication and debate, it is for members to determine the accuracy of information they are posting.”

Senedd members backed the motion to endorse the committee’s recommendation with no objection from the Conservative benches, doing away with the need for a vote.

Mr Davies was also found to have breached rules following a separate complaint about a “misleading and dangerous” tweet but the Senedd agreed to take no further action on this.

Labour’s Lee Waters, who introduced the default 20mph policy, expected better from a Senedd member, “let alone the leader of the opposition in our national parliament”.

He said: “A censure by this Senedd is a solemn thing, none of us should take lightly a rebuke by our peers or a finding against us by the independent standards commissioner.

“But I’m bound to note a pattern of behaviour by the leader of the opposition … and the fact he’s not here this afternoon….

“I’m not aware if he’s offered any explanation but it speaks of a contempt about our standards. This is not the first time his words and conduct have been questioned.”

Mr Waters added: “Describing the change in speed limit as a blanket one, when it only applies to a minority of roads, is clearly deliberate and intended to mislead. But this isn’t some jolly jape, lives are at stake, and confusion is sowed by inaccurate use of language.”

In September, Natasha Asghar, the Tory shadow transport secretary, was similarly given a ticking off by the Senedd for depicting 20mph as a “blanket” policy.

She refused to back down, saying: “To say that I brought the Senedd into disrepute by using the word ‘blanket’ is purely absurd.

“I make no apology whatsoever for standing up for my constituents and residents across Wales when it comes to the Welsh Government’s 20mph scheme.”

The complaint against her was submitted by Mr Waters and Ms Asghar vowed to continue campaigning despite “desperate” attempts to stop her.

Mr Bain accused Ms Asghar of “saying one thing and doing the opposite”, writing: “I have no doubt that such conduct is unacceptable and …  brings the Senedd into disrepute.”

OPPOSITION Senedd members accused ministers of going “round and round in circles” and “making a mess” of Wales’ school system.

Cefin Campbell described a Welsh Government update on school improvement as “yet another statement of the obvious” and an admission of serious shortcomings.

Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary warned: “Labour in Wales have failed pupils, parents and teachers for far too long,” with GCSE results lagging England.

Mr Campbell said Welsh ministers sought the OECD’s advice three times following “worst-ever” PISA results in 2009, only to end up with even worse results in 2023.

He raised a review of the four regional consortia, the middle tier between councils and the Welsh Government, which found they were ineffective, with a new model needed.

Mr Campbell said: “A government going round and round in circles does not lead to pupil progress. We need to support teachers to do what they do best.”

The former lecturer explained that school reserves stood at £301m three years ago but, at the current rate of decline, could fall to a deficit of -£71m by 2026.

He said: “Schools are facing unprecedented and precipitous budgetary challenges and it’s time Labour makes good on its promise on more money for schools in Wales immediately.”

Tom Giffard accused Welsh ministers of “doubling down on more of the same … ideologically driven solutions that got us into this mess in the first place”.

The Conservatives’ shadow education secretary warned: “Instead of raising standards, the evidence suggests that Labour’s approach will only lower them.”

Referring to PISA results, he said: “We have the worst educational standards anywhere in the UK … it’s been that way in every single subject every single time we’ve been assessed.”

Mr Giffard welcomed confirmation of a 5.5% pay rise for teachers but cautioned that schools are having to make roles redundant, put off works or withdraw subjects to make ends meet.

“In that context, the last thing our schools need is an unfunded pay settlement,” he said.

Mr Giffard, a former teaching assistant in a Welsh-language primary school, called for other school staff beyond teachers to also receive a 5.5% raise.

In a statement to the Senedd on November 5, Lynne Neagle did not shy away from the challenges as she set out key improvement priorities.

Wales’ education secretary welcomed a slight increase in attendance this academic year from 91.4% to 92% but accepted rates remain “nowhere near good enough”.

“I want to see a much bigger improvement” she said, with too much variation between councils, year groups and pupils from different backgrounds.

Ms Neagle, who was appointed in March, announced a new ministerial advisory group and an extra £1.1m this year aimed at driving up attainment.

The education secretary told the Senedd she is considering more international benchmarking by participating in the TIMSS and PILRS studies.

She said the 5.5% pay rise will be backdated to the start of the school year urgently.

Refuting suggestions of an ideology-driven approach, she said: “That is simply not the way that I work. My only interest in doing this job is to deliver for children and young people.”

A COUNCIL scheme to build 24 affordable homes for the ‘elderly’ at the “eyesore” site of the former Motor World building in Milford Haven has been backed by county planners, with hopes schemes like it will help create more sustainable communities.

W B Griffiths & Sons Ltd, on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, in an application before the council’s planning committee on November 5, sought approval for the construction of a new residential redevelopment of 24 affordable apartments for over-55s at 70A-80A Charles Street.

It is proposed to build 21 one-bed apartments and three two-bed apartments, along with associated works.

The former Motor World site, previously described as an “eyesore,” was cleared in 2018 to enable redevelopment, with planning permission granted on the site for the development of 15 affordable apartments for over-55s in 2020 but the previous contractor was put into administration under what was described as, ‘significant financial stress’.

The latest application, recommended for delegated approval, submitted through agent DPP Planning, follows a public consultation earlier this year.

Local county councillor Viv Stoddart had previously raised concerns about insufficient parking space for residents and their carers, but the committee heard the councillor was now happy with delegated approval.

At the November 5 meeting, some consternation at the council definition of ‘elderly,’ for over-55s, was raised during the debate, with Cllr Alan Dennison also expressing concerns about the loss of potential business space by the plans.

Approval was proposed by Cllr Alistair Cameron, seconded by committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock, who said: “We need to achieve regeneration of our town centres by repopulating them, and they will be much more sustainable in the future.”

He was supported by Cllr Mark Carter, who said: “I like developments like these; I think this is the way forward for communities, we’ve got a site here that as far back as I’ve ben a councillor has attracted questions about when it will be built.”

On concerns about parking space availability, he added: “No-one is going to be forced to go there, you will go there if it suits you.”

He finished by saying the development may ease general housing pressures: “With a bit of luck, some houses may be freed up for families, this is a win all round and I fully support it.”

A sticking point is the application is subject to a Welsh Government Holding Direction where planning permission cannot be fully granted until an awaited vehicle Swept Path Analysis has been approved demonstrating that a turning area can be provided within the site for the largest type of vehicle that would serve it.

Members, by 12 votes in favour to one abstention, backed delegated authority for the council’s head of planning to approve the application following resolution of this issue.