Politics

Welsh Government promises ban on lying politicians

Published

7 months ago

July 4, 2024

THE WELSH Government promised to introduce a law banning lying politicians before the next Senedd election after striking a last-minute deal to avert defeat.

Mick Antoniw, who is counsel general, the Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser, reached an agreement with Adam Price just before a key vote on creating an offence of deception.

Under the elections bill, Mr Price proposed a four-year disqualification for Senedd members, ministers or candidates found guilty of deliberate lying.

Mr Antoniw stopped short of supporting criminalisation as he invited the Senedd’s standards committee, which is holding an inquiry on accountability, to make proposals.

He said: “The Welsh Government will bring forward legislation before 2026 for the disqualification of members and candidates found guilty of deception through an independent judicial process.”

In return, Plaid Cymru’s 12 members and Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, abstained – with Labour winning the vote to remove clause 64 from the bill, 26-13.

Without the deal, Welsh ministers would likely have suffered defeat because the Senedd’s speaker is required to use her casting vote against amendments in the event of a tie.

Mr Antoniw, who attended his first Tory group meeting that day to try to sway its members, joked that the 11th-hour deal spared the Senedd from a 30-page speech he had prepared.

Mr Price, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said: “What has just been announced by the counsel general is truly historic, in fact it is globally pioneering.

“We now have a commitment from the government that our democracy will be the first – the first in the world to introduce a general prohibition on deliberate deception by politicians.”

He added: “For it to have public trust, it has to sit outside the political process – you can’t have politicians pointing the finger at each other and being judge and jury.”

Mr Price, who served as Plaid Cymru leader from 2018 to 2023, said a collapse in trust in politics poses an existential threat to democracies worldwide.

He said: “Democracy starts to break down if the electors can’t trust what the elected say.”

The former MP warned existing measures – such as standards committees, commissioners and Westminster’s recall system – have all failed to solve the credibility problem.

Mr Price said a small minority of politicians deliberately distort the truth for their own gain but they poison the well for everyone else.

Labour’s Lee Waters said there is consensus across the chamber that deliberate lying undermines public trust in politics and needs to be rooted out.

He said: “I was elected in 2016 – before the Brexit referendum, before Donald Trump … before Boris Johnson lied his way to Downing Street then lied his way out again. There’s no doubt politics in this country has become darker … and I worry we’re adjusting to it.”

The former minister said he has witnessed lying, manipulation, racist abuse, arson and mobs whipped up by the far-right descending on his Llanelli constituency over the past year.

“It’s been an awful, upsetting experience seeing this ugliness becoming quietly normalised,” said Mr Waters, who abstained in an earlier vote to allow further debate on the issue.

He reiterated support for a criminal offence of deception because it would set a high bar and the courts are independent. “People don’t trust politicians to regulate themselves,” he said.

Peter Fox gave the Conservatives’ backing for Mr Price’s plan, pressing ahead in voting against the Welsh Government’s amendment despite the announcement.

He said: “I’m anxious .. that the way forward that may be proposed may not give the parliamentary time to enable things to go forward whereas the current course would.”

Alun Davies, a Labour backbencher, denounced a tweet by Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservative group, posted on the morning of the debate on July 2.

The Blaenau Gwent MS said: “A single message ‘Labour wants to pay illegal immigrants £1,600 a month’ – something we know which is completely untrue … no basis of truth at all.”

He argued against bringing the criminal justice system into politics, saying: “A parliament shouldn’t be subject to judicial oversight … [it] should be able to govern its own affairs.”

James Evans sympathised with Mr Price’s proposal, saying he thought it would go some way to rebuilding public confidence in politicians.

But he cautioned the plan could do “real democratic damage” as he raised risks to parliamentary privilege – legal immunities which allow politicians to speak freely.

Mr Evans suggested Senedd members could face a flurry of defamation lawsuits. “I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder every time I say something,” he said.

The Tory MS for Brecon and Radnorshire told the Senedd: “I don’t think it is right that someone’s personal views could be challenged in court.”

Caerphilly’s Labour MS Hefin David agreed on privilege, adding that the far-right or hard-left politicians might use “criminalisation of their views” as a “badge of honour”.

Jane Dodds said political dishonesty is corroding public trust, warning that protections in Cardiff Bay and Westminster are woefully inadequate.

Warning that lying flourishes because politicians can get away with it, Ms Dodds told the chamber: “We have to do more – there is no excuse.”

The Lib Dems’ leader in Wales raised a “shocking” survey which revealed 45% of people rarely, if ever, trust governments to prioritise national interests over party politics.

Ms Dodds, who represents Mid and West Wales, said: “Truth in our society is fragile and vulnerable. Our goal is straightforward: it is to stop politicians … from calculated lying.

“That is an act that can have a deep, often traumatic consequence to people’s lives. And let’s be clear here: freedom of speech is not freedom to lie.”

News

Calls for ban on lying in Senedd by end of the year

Published

1 day ago

January 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A LOCAL politician has called on the Welsh Government to ban politicians from lying in the Senedd.

Speaking in the Senedd on Tuesday, Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds MS called on the First Minister Eluned Morgan to confirm that legislation on political deception will be passed this year.

Last summer, Jane Dodds MS voted in favour of a motion which would make it an offence for a Senedd member, or a candidate for election to the Senedd, to wilfully or with intent to mislead make or publish a statement that is known to be false or deceptive.

The Welsh Government has previously committed towards making lying in Welsh politics an offence.

According to data from the Veracity Index, in 2024 only 9% of the public trusted politicians to tell the truth-the lowest score in forty years.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have backed plans to ban lying in the Senedd, as part of their pledge to clean up Welsh politics.

Commenting on the need to restore trust back into Welsh politics, Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds said that “we need to counter the rise of misinformation and its damaging consequences.”

We need to look no further than the event of last summer, where misinformation spread by elected officials led to riots that left lasting damages on countless communities.

Mistruths and lying can and have had a devastating impact on the lives of millions of people, which is why we must act now.

We can no longer tolerate the hijacking of our political system by mistruths and deception, We have return power back to voters.

The stakes have never been higher and the Welsh Government cannot afford to sit by and watch as public trust in our democratic institutions continues to erode away. “

News

Ex-FM declares interest amid calls for crackdown on political donations

Published

1 day ago

January 21, 2025

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

VAUGHAN GETHING declared an interest as the Senedd’s petitions committee discussed calls for a crackdown on donations to politicians.

The former first minister made the declaration as the committee considered a petition calling for stricter rules to limit gifts, donations and payments received by Senedd members

Mr Gething, who broke no rules, stood down in August amid controversy around a £200,000 donation to his Welsh Labour leadership campaign from a convicted polluter.

During the declaration of interest section of Monday’s meeting, he said: “I don’t think I have a declaration of interest but the petitioner, I think, is talking about me in part of it.”

In her 343-name petition, Lyn Eynon wrote: “There has been wide public concern over large donations given to a prominent Member of the Senedd. Lessons must be learnt from this.

“Wales must preserve and enhance its reputation for transparency and integrity.

“All MSs have a duty to ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests.”

Senedd members agreed to keep the petition open while the standards committee concludes its inquiry into the registration and declaration of interests.

Mr Gething wrote to the standards committee in May, acknowledging concerns and calling for a review of the rules on donations made to Senedd members.

The standards committee – which is now chaired by Hannah Blythyn, who was sacked by Mr Gething amid claims of leaking – is expected to continue this work in the summer term.

Mr Gething also drew the committee’s attention to a petition on Covid-19 vaccine side effects, pointing out he was health minister at the start of the vaccination programme.

While the petition met the 10,000-name threshold to be considered for a Senedd debate, committee members agreed to close the petition submitted by Alison Butler.

Rhys ab Owen, an independent member of the petitions committee, pointed out that module four of the UK Covid inquiry will consider and make recommendations on vaccines.

He said: “I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to have any debate in the Senedd, bearing in mind only a quarter of those who signed the petition were based in Wales.”

Mr Gething said he will be giving written evidence to module four of the Covid inquiry but he was unsure whether he will be called to appear in person.

Committee members also closed a 443-name petition, submitted by Jasmin McNally, calling on the Welsh Government to scrap its “racist and ridiculous” anti-racist Wales plan.

Mr Gething pointed out that the plan was endorsed by all parties in the Senedd.

“The petitioner’s entitled to have a different point of view,” he said. “But we’re not going to change government policy or the view of the Senedd on this.

“I disagree in strong terms with the emotive and offensive language used by the petitioner but that’s what happens in a democracy.

“I don’t believe there is more action the committee can take. We simply have a disagreement of views and if she wants people who agree with her, the ballot box is the way to do it.”

During the meeting on January 20, Senedd members discussed a 271-signature petition, calling for meat-free Mondays in every school in Wales.

Manon Thompson, the teenage petitioner, wrote that meat-free Mondays – as adopted by Cardiff council – would reduce carbon footprints and save the lives of animals.

The committee thanked the young campaigner, agreeing to close the petition with Welsh ministers expected to hold a consultation on healthy eating in the spring.

Members also noted a letter from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), dashing petitioners’ hopes of S4C pulling together a bid for Wales to compete in Eurovision.

Bakel Walden, from the EBU, wrote: “As the BBC continues to participate, and remains the rights holder in the United Kingdom, this means an entry from the individual nations of the UK is therefore not possible at the Eurovision Song Contest.”

Community

Planners to visit Llangwm affordable housing scheme before decision

Published

1 day ago

January 21, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANNERS are to visit the site of the first phase of a proposed scheme for 67 affordable homes in a Pembrokeshire village ahead of any decision.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the January meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Ateb Group Limited sought permission for a “100 per cent affordable” residential development of 57 houses and 10 bungalows, and associated works, at land off The Kilns, Llangwm, the site already having permission for 54 homes.

An officer report, recommending approval, says a social housing grant has been secured for the first phase of the proposed development, for 25 dwellings, with the mix of the second phase indicative at this stage.

Llangwm Community Council has raised issues including sewerage system capacity, a lack of facilities in the village and at nearby Cleddau Reach School for the size of the development, and potential traffic congestion.

18 letters of concern, including from Cleddau Reach VC school were also received, raising issues including traffic and parking, a loss of privacy, the scale and design of the development, the scheme representing a “fundamental change in the character of the village,” being “in excess of the need for affordable housing in Llangwm and nearby villages,” and “likely anti-social behaviour associated with the development”.

The application was recommended for the council’s head of planning to have delegated powers of approval subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement which includes financial contributions to mitigate the impact of development on local schools Cleddau Reach VC and Haverfordwest High VC.

Speaking at the meeting Barry Childs, on behalf of the community council, said the scheme before the committee “bore little resemblance” to the original proposal, with “limited knowledge of the village and its facilities”.

Local member Cllr Michael John expressed concerns at the size and location of the proposal, saying he could not support the scheme in its current format, calling on Ateb to withdraw it.

Calls were later made to defer the application for Ateb to meet with the community over the concerns raised, with concerns also raised on the impact the development would have on water quality from thew increased foul water draining demands of the scheme.

Members were told no deferral for to seek an amended scheme was possible, a proposal later being moved by Cllr Alan Dennison for a site visit and land drainage concerns, the application returning to a future meeting.