Tory leader’s tweets ‘brought Senedd into disrepute’

Published

7 mins ago

October 31, 2024

THE LEADER of the Conservative opposition broke Senedd rules by incorrectly describing 20mph as a blanket policy, a committee concluded.

Andrew RT Davies was found to have brought the Welsh Parliament into disrepute after calling the default speed limit a “blanket” policy on social media.

The tweet, posted just days after a ruling that the phrase was “imprecise and inaccurate”, read: “Another bus route cut thanks to Labour and Plaid’s blanket 20mph speed limits.”

An investigation by Douglas Bain, the Senedd’s standards commissioner, concluded Mr Davies breached the code of conduct by continuing to use the term.

But the Conservative was cleared of breaking rules around honesty, with Mr Bain saying: “I am satisfied that it was not his intention to deceive anyone.”

He explained that untruthfulness requires an element of deceit, fraud or moral turpitude.

Mr Davies, who has led the Welsh Tories in two stints since 2011, will be formally “censured”, which amounts to a slap on the wrists, in the Senedd on November 6.

The politician admitted he was aware of the standards committee’s conclusion that depicting the default speed limit as a blanket policy was imprecise and inaccurate.

Mr Davies argued he was entitled to use the phrase under Article 10 (freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

But Mr Bain ruled: “When he posted the tweet the member knew – or ought to have known that – although it was not untruthful or dishonest, it was false.

“It was not protected by the enhanced protection afforded to politicians.”

Mr Davies, who undertook not to use the term “blanket” until the complaint had been dealt with, asserted the descriptor should, at worst, be tolerated as an “inaccurate exaggeration”.

In February, Shaun Haggerty complained to the commissioner, criticising Mr Davies for “continuing to falsely use the term”, prompting the investigation.

And, in a report that followed on October 30, the commissioner found Mr Davies breached rules one (leadership principle) and two (bringing the Senedd into disrepute) of the code.

Mr Bain, who was appointed in 2021 after serving as acting commissioner, said it was incumbent on the leader of the opposition to set a good example.

He wrote: “I am satisfied that when he posted the tweet the member knew or ought to have known that it was ‘imprecise and inaccurate’ and so false.

“By ignoring the committee’s admonition and the guidance given … he failed to give the leadership required of him.”

Mr Davies was also investigated following a separate complaint, submitted by Anthony Jones in April, similarly centred on social media posts.

The tweet stated: “Vaughan Gething’s Labour government is embracing the same extreme ideology as its predecessor. Nothing has changed.”

Below was a picture, from the ‘Guido Fawkes’ political blog, of the ex-first minister and a pregnant woman, captioned: “Welsh Government press release celebrates ‘birthing people’.”

The complainant described the post as a “blatant lie”, warning that it was misleading and dangerous, with the Welsh Government confirming no such press release was issued.

Mr Davies pointed out that a ministerial statement on April 26 referred to ‘birthing people’ as he again argued he was exercising his right to freedom of expression.

Interviewed under oath, Mr Davies told the commissioner Mr Jones had “serially complained” about his conduct, with four other complaints since 2023.

But Mr Bain did not consider any of the four complaints vexatious and was not satisfied with an explanation that the text had been copied from ‘Guido Fawkes’.

“I am clear that is irrelevant,” he wrote in his report.

“Members are fully responsible for any quotation they choose to include in a tweet … that has been made clear to members repeatedly.”

Mr Bain pointed out that guidance on the code of conduct states Senedd members are expected to reasonably fact check and verify their assertions.

He said: “As a former member of the standards of conduct committee, I consider it inconceivable that he was not aware of that.”

The commissioner asked whether Mr Davies accepted that a politician knowingly making a false or misleading statement would be likely to bring the Senedd into disrepute.

He replied: “If someone deliberately did that, of course, that would be a case of bringing the Senedd into disrepute. But I don’t accept that in this case one iota.”

Mr Davies described press releases and ministerial statements as synonymous but Mr Bain did not accept this, saying there is a clear distinction.

He wrote: “Whilst I have no doubt the member’s tweet … was incorrect and potentially misleading, I am not satisfied on the evidence it can be found to have been untruthful.”

However, Mr Davies was again found to have brought the Senedd into disrepute.

The commissioner said: “I am satisfied that the member made no attempt to check the accuracy of the text from ‘Guido Fawkes’ that he copied into his tweet.”

Mr Davies was offered an opportunity to comment.

35 affordable homes plans for Cleddau Bridge Hotel site submitted

Published

4 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A FORMAL application on plans to build 35 affordable homes on the fire-ravaged site of the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke Dock has been submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council.

A pre-application consultation on the plans was held in September and October ahead of the formal submission.

In a prime location at one of the entrances to Pembroke Dock the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel has been derelict since a fire in March 2019, which brought emergency services from as far afield as Ammanford, Aberystwyth and Swansea.

A previous planning application for the demolition of the hotel and siting of a residential care home and linked bungalows was submitted in October 2022 and which was subsequently granted permission in February 2023.

This permission, whilst in outline, is still live and allows for the loss of the hotel use of the site and its alternative redevelopment as a residential care home.

The site has now been purchased by Castell Group Property Specialists who specialise in delivering affordable housing in South Wales and have undertaken a joint development deal with Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) and that deal was agreed back in April 2024.

Castell Group Property Specialists, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, now wants to demolish what is left of the hotel, with a development of affordable housing units, with landscaping and ecological enhancements, the housing being 100 per cent affordable, a mix of social rent and affordable housing.

Initial discussions with the council were for 38 affordable units, which has been lowered to 35 in a mix of 16 one-bed units, 11 two-bed units, six three-bed units and two four- bed units.

The applicants say: “The application offers an opportunity to find a solution to the redevelopment of the site, which has now been vacant and derelict now for some five years, and to make a significant contribution towards meeting the affordable housing needs of the area. The proposal is unique in that the scheme would be in the form of 100 per cent affordable housing.”

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

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has previously said the 2019 fire was started by a deliberate act.

Following a fire investigation, Dyfed-Powys Police said they found there to be insufficient evidence to identify a suspect.

News

Cardigan WASPI joins London Budget Day pensions rally

Published

7 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A PENSIONS campaigner from Cardigan joined hundreds of 1950s-born women who gathered outside Parliament on Budget Day (Oct 30) to demand compensation for delayed state pensions.

On March 21, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ruled that women born in the 1950s are due compensation due to the lack of adequate notice given by successive governments about the delay in their state pensions.

Rachel Nicholas, from the Ceredigion Preseli Women Against State Pension Injustice (WASPI) group, travelled to London from Cardigan. She described the experience as deeply moving, saying: “It was a very emotional experience, joining thousands of purple-clad women who feel as strongly as I do that the injustice we have suffered must be compensated. We held a minute’s silence for the WASPI women who have passed away. However, spirits were still high. I’m really glad I went.”

WASPI National Chair Hilary Simpson expressed disappointment over the lack of progress: “Another Budget Day has come and gone with no news of compensation for 1950s women, despite our meeting with the Pensions Minister in early September. It’s now over seven months since the Ombudsman published his recommendations. The Government must treat this as a matter of urgency; a WASPI woman is dying every 13 minutes.”

The rally saw speeches from Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey, John McDonnell MP, Richard Burgon MP, Lord Bryn Davies (co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women’s State Pension Inequality), and Jan Shortt, General Secretary of the National Pensioners’ Convention.

***Determined voices: WASPI campaigners at the Budget Day rally in London (Photos courtesy of WASPI).***

Community

Older people ‘left out in the cold’ by UK Budget cuts, says Age UK Cymru

Published

8 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FOLLOWING Wednesday’s Budget, elderly people across Wales are bracing for tougher times as Age UK Cymru warns of severe impacts from the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment for thousands of vulnerable individuals.

The charity expressed strong disappointment with the Chancellor’s announcements, stating the Budget failed to provide adequate support against soaring energy costs, which are already unaffordable for many older people on low incomes.

In a statement, Age UK Cymru cautioned that these cuts could leave numerous elderly individuals unable to afford necessary heating through the winter. A spokesperson for the charity said: “We’re hugely disappointed by the Chancellor’s lack of mitigating measures or financial support for the thousands of older people in Wales who will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment.”

The Winter Fuel Payment, a long-standing benefit helping older people manage heating expenses during the coldest months, has been either reduced or removed for many, leaving a significant gap in financial support.

Age UK Cymru is urging both the UK and Welsh governments to broaden eligibility for winter assistance, proposing that benefits recipients, including those on Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, and Carer’s Allowance, should qualify for Winter Fuel Payments.

While the charity presses for expanded eligibility, they also recognize that current criteria still risk leaving some of the most vulnerable without help. To address this, Age UK Cymru suggests the UK Government adopt data-matching techniques to more accurately identify and automatically extend Winter Fuel Payments to low-income individuals in need.

Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Responding to the Budget, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said: “A number of announcements in today’s budget are to be welcomed, including increased investment in public services, and additional funding for the Welsh Government.

“However, it is disappointing that despite using the budget to raise an estimated £40bn, the Chancellor has decided not to reverse her decision to means test the Winter Fuel Payment, and did not announce any specific support to mitigate its impact.

“This decision will result in hundreds of thousands of older people missing out on crucial financial support, and many older people have told me they are hugely worried about the effect this will have on their health and well-being.

“In my view, the Chancellor has missed an opportunity to demonstrate she has listened to the concerns raised by older people and stakeholders, and, more importantly, to take action to ensure people do not miss out on the support they need.”