Senedd takes evidence on sacking misbehaving politicians

Published

1 year ago

October 16, 2024

SENEDD members took evidence on following Scotland’s lead by developing a recall system to allow voters to remove badly behaving politicians from office between elections.

Graham Simpson, a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), gave evidence on his proposed recall bill to the Senedd’s standards committee on October 14.

Mr Simpson said his bill, which will be introduced by the end of this year, would automatically disqualify MSPs if they receive a prison sentence of six months or more.

As in Cardiff Bay and Westminster, the current threshold is 12 months while for councillors, a prison sentence of three months or more triggers disqualification.

Conservative MSP Mr Simpson explained that the bill would extend a rule for councillors to MSPs, so they too can be removed if they do not attend meetings for six months.

Wales would be the only part of Britain without a similar mechanism if the Scottish bill was agreed, with the UK Parliament introducing a recall system nearly a decade ago.

Hannah Blythyn – the newly elected chair of the committee, which is looking at options for following suit – asked about the triggers for a recall petition under the Scottish proposal.

Mr Simpson said the triggers would be the same as Westminster’s: a custodial sentence for 12 months or less, a suspension of at least ten days or an expenses offence conviction.

With Senedd elections moving to a fully proportional system, and Wales abandoning first past the post, Labour’s Mick Antoniw questioned how the recall system would operate.

Wales will adopt a “closed-list” electoral system in 2026 and by-elections will not be held to replace outgoing politicians, with the next candidate on a party’s list returned instead.

Mr Simpson said this posed a problem under Scotland’s additional member system, which like Wales currently, uses a mixture of first past the post and proportional representation.

Under his proposal, 10% of voters would need to sign a recall petition across a region with at least 10% in three constituencies to “prevent personal campaigns in one part of the region”.

Mr Simpson, one of seven regional-list MSPs for Central Scotland, explained that a yes-no vote would then be held instead of a by-election, with a simple majority required.

The Conservative said: “The question would be ‘should this person keep their job?’. That wouldn’t be the question on the ballot paper, obviously, but that’s basically it.”

He told the committee that the next person on the party’s list would replace the MSP.

Mr Simson added: “What I’ve been keen to do is give the member, who is subject to the recall petition, the opportunity to put their case to the electorate”.

The Conservatives’ Samuel Kurtz questioned whether electing the next candidate on the party list is fair, suggesting it may be better for the electorate to have a “full and open say”.

Mr Simpson pointed out that if he resigned now, he would be replaced by the next on the list.

“That’s just the way of it,” he said. “I don’t like that system but that’s what we’re stuck with.

“And you’re going in Wales entirely to that system that puts the power in the hands of the parties and not the electorate.”

Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths asked whether sanctions should be subject to a two-thirds majority vote of the Senedd rather than a recall petition.

“No, I don’t think that would be fair,” said the MSP. “Not least because we have a recall system for MPs, I think there should be an equivalent system for members of the Senedd….

“There is always a danger of these things becoming political.”

In May, Michael Matheson, Scotland’s former health secretary, was suspended from the Holyrood parliament for 27 days over an £11,000 bill for iPad roaming charges.

Mr Simpson said: “Had there been a recall system in place then that member could have been subject to it … it would kick in if a member is suspended for ten days or more.”

Asked whether there should be a recall petition if a politician changes parties or becomes independent, the MSP told the committee: “I think you’re getting into dangerous territory.”

He explained that if Sam Kurtz decided to join Plaid Cymru then lost a recall vote, under the Scottish proposal, the next person on the Conservative list would replace him.

He said the seat would remain vacant in the case of an MSP elected as an independent.

The standards committee also heard from Daniel Greenberg, Westminster’s standards commissioner, but the public and press were barred from the meeting.

Kurtz calls on Labour MPs to back release of Mandelson papers

Published

3 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Staff Writer

Opposition motion follows Epstein-linked document disclosures

A SENEDD Member has called on Labour MPs to support a Conservative Opposition Day Motion demanding the release of papers linked to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK Ambassador to the United States.

Samuel Kurtz said the motion follows the publication of new files and photographs involving Lord Mandelson, which were released as part of a United States investigation into the disgraced and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking out, Mr Kurtz said that during Prime Minister’s Questions, the Prime Minister admitted he was aware of Peter Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment.

“That means the Prime Minister knowingly appointed Peter Mandelson to one of the most important diplomatic roles in government despite his links to Epstein,” he said. “This raises serious questions about the Prime Minister’s judgement.”

Mr Kurtz went on to accuse the Prime Minister of attempting to prevent transparency over the appointment process.

“Now, instead of being open and transparent, the Prime Minister is attempting to block the release of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment in order to protect his own position,” he said.

He warned that Labour MPs who oppose the motion would share responsibility for withholding information, adding: “If Labour MPs support blocking the release of these papers, they will be complicit in covering up the process and judgement that led the Prime Minister to appoint Peter Mandelson as Ambassador, despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.”

News

Welsh peace campaigner removed from court during Palestine protest case

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Concerns raised over use of terrorism laws against silent sign-holders as Welsh activist among those ejected from London hearings

A WELSH peace campaigner was among several protesters removed from court by security staff this week as plea hearings continued for people charged under terrorism legislation for holding pro-Palestine signs.

Angie Zelter, aged 74, from Knucklas, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Monday as part of mass proceedings linked to the Government’s ban on Palestine Action.

Campaigners say hundreds of people across the UK – including some in Wales – have been charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 after quietly holding handwritten signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

Zelter, a long-time anti-war activist and founder of Trident Ploughshares, attempted to read a prepared statement criticising the prosecutions before being escorted from the courtroom, according to supporters.

She told the court she did not accept being labelled a terrorist for what she described as peaceful protest and opposition to the war in Gaza.

Outside the building, fellow campaigners said she had sought to argue that international law and freedom of expression should protect non-violent dissent.

Also removed from the hearing was Tim Crosland, co-founder of Defend Our Juries, who said he had tried to raise legal objections to the charges before being asked to leave.

Arrests nationwide

Organisers of the “Lift The Ban” campaign claim nearly 3,000 people have been arrested across Britain since late 2025 for taking part in silent vigils, with several hundred now facing prosecution. The offences carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

The group argues the legislation is being used to criminalise peaceful protest. It is calling on the Government to lift the ban on Palestine Action and to change its stance on military cooperation with Israel.

However, ministers have defended the proscription, saying the organisation has been linked to criminal damage and disruption at sites connected to defence manufacturing.

Welsh perspective

While most hearings are taking place in London, campaigners say demonstrators in Wales have also taken part in sign-holding protests.

Civil liberties advocates have warned that applying terrorism laws to non-violent protest risks setting a troubling precedent.

For many in mid Wales, the sight of a pensioner from rural Powys being removed from a courtroom has sharpened debate over where the line lies between legitimate protest and criminality.

Further hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks, with more defendants from across the UK expected to appear.

Business

Bid to convert office space into chocolate factory, salon and laundrette

Published

11 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for the retrospective conversion of office space previously connected to a Pembrokeshire car hire business to a chocolate factory, a beauty salon and a laundrette has been submitted to county planners

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr M Williams, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought retrospective permission for the subdivision of an office on land off Scotchwell Cottage, Cartlett, Haverfordwest into three units forming a chocolate manufacturing, a beauty salon, and a launderette, along with associated works.

A supporting statement said planning history at the site saw a 2018 application for the refurbishment of an existing office building and a change of use from oil depot offices to a hire car office and car/van storage yard, approved back in 2019.

For the chocolate manufacturing by ‘Pembrokeshire Chocolate company,’ as part of the latest scheme it said: “The operation comprises of manufacturing of handmade bespoke flavoured chocolate bars. Historically there was an element of counter sales but this has now ceased. The business sales comprise of online orders and the delivery of produce to local stockist. There are no counter sales from the premises.”

It said the beauty salon “offers treatments, nail services and hairdressing,” operating “on an appointment only basis, with the hairdresser element also offering a mobile service”. It said the third unit of the building functions as a commercial laundrette and ironing services known as ‘West Coast Laundry,’ which “predominantly provides services to holiday cottages, hotels and care homes”.

The statement added: “Beyond the unchanged access the site has parking provision for at least 12 vehicles and a turning area. The building now forms three units which employ two persons per unit. The 12 parking spaces, therefore, provide sufficient provision for staff.

“In terms of visiting members of the public the beauty salon operates on an appointment only basis and based on its small scale can only accommodate two customers at any one time. Therefore, ample parking provision exists to visitors.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing and commercial laundrette service these enterprises do not attract visitors but do attract the dropping off laundry and delivery of associated inputs. Drop off and collections associated with the laundry services tend to fall in line with holiday accommodation changeover days, for example Tuesday drop off and collections on the Thursday.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing ingredients are delivered by couriers and movements associated with this is also estimated at 10 vehicular movements per week.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.