A fresh scandal was hinted at in my previous column. Instead we’ve had two, as Vaughan Gething settles into the hot seat in Wales’ top job.
Our new First Minister is no stranger to scandals, having been mired in several throughout his election campaign. By now we’re all aware of the controversial £200,000 donation Gething’s campaign received, and Unite the Union’s apparent vote stitch-up.
Gething off to a rough start
Nation.Cymru has revealed evidence that Labour’s ‘Organise’ communications tool had been misused to Gething’s benefit. The Labour Party had previously issued a notice that use of its internal communications systems to promote either leadership candidate was strictly prohibited. This did not stop Matthew Rees, an employee of Chris Bryant MP’s office, from doing just that.
In his other role as Secretary of the Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare CLP, Rees issued a communication to local members promoting an event that was part of Gething’s leadership campaign. Prohibited usage of that internal system to promote Gething’s candidacy is clearly a cause for concern.
Gething’s election as leader of the Labour Party in Wales, and consequently as First Minister, is tainted by these multiple scandals. The margin of victory was very narrow, the infamous 52-48. As yet more evidence emerges of an unequal playing field during the race, misgivings around the conduct of Gething’s leadership campaign are unlikely to go away.
Losing confidence
Sinead Cook, Head of Investigations at the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, was suspended over some of her social media posts suggesting political bias. Neil McEvoy, leader of the Propel party and a former Plaid Cymru MS, blew the whistle on this story and provided evidence of Cook’s comments, which included attacks on himself, Propel, and the Conservative Party, among others.
McEvoy believes that investigations involving himself and carried out by Cook were not handled fairly. He has called for the Ombudsman to be abolished and replaced by elected officials with no active political background. It has since been announced that Cook resigned from her post.
The Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies MP, welcomed the resignation and joined McEvoy’s calls for every case investigated by Cook to be reopened. Davies also called for the current Ombudsman Michelle Morris to be replaced, and a new body established, as he said he’d lost confidence in the current system. It has been alleged that Cook showed a political bias in favour of the Labour Party, while dealing with people from other parties – and independents – less favourably.
I believe this is a major national scandal. Cook’s post saying “f*** the Tories” is the tagline that’s followed this story around; to its detriment, in my view. Due to national fatigue after 14 years of Conservative UK rule, that sentiment has seen people ‘like’ and applaud Cook’s actions without looking any further.
It’s concerning that a role requiring total neutrality has been tarnished in such a way. It’s important to note that, although the Conservative Party featured most prominently in coverage, individuals from other parties and independent councillors have also come forward with concerns regarding an alleged Labour bias.
RT fails to ‘cancel’ nation
The self-appointed champion of ‘free’ speech and combative culture warrior, Andrew RT Davies, failed in his attempt to have the Welsh news outlet Nation.Cymru sanctioned by the press regulator IPSO.
The leader of the Conservative Party in Wales complained that Nation.Cymru had misinformed the public about his position on the HS2 project. The complaint was dismissed in full by IPSO. The committee found that the publication had quoted comments made by Davies in a BBC interview, and they didn’t consider the relevant article inaccurate in that respect.
This isn’t the first time the Welsh Conservatives have taken aim at that publication. In February, the party had another complaint dismissed in full by IPSO. Nation.Cymru reported that Conor Holohan, the new head of communications for the Tory Senedd Group, had previously been employed as an aide by a small fringe party that campaigns for the abolition of the Welsh Parliament.
It’s ironic that a party which frequently presents itself as a champion of free speech has twice attempted to have a news outlet censured on spurious grounds. It almost seems like a case of “How dare they report the things we say and do”. Almost.
Baroness blunders
The Baroness of Llanfaes, Carmen Ria Smith, certainly came to the attention of SNP supporters last week following an interview with The National. The popular Scottish news outlet presented the interview as though Smith was encouraging the SNP to abandon its long-held policy of refusing to legitimise the House of Lords by participation in it.
I must note that Smith said the interview had been misrepresented, and that she had no interest in “telling our sister party what to do”. Prominent SNP MPs and MSPs vocally shot down the notion that their party should take up seats in the Lords, so it’s just as well the Baroness didn’t intend to urge that.
Smith’s opinion piece for iNews followed. “I’ve been a Lord for two weeks – I can already see we need abolishing.” The response to this piece by readers was similar to that of those who argued against accepting a seat in the Lords in the first place. “We know it needs abolishing, that’s why it shouldn’t be legitimised by participation.”
Personally, I’m of the same view as the SNP. The Lords is an undemocratic institution, the second largest on the entire planet, and shouldn’t be legitimised via participation. I know and accept that not everyone agrees. I understand the logic of ‘Wales’ voice must be heard in Westminster’. But I think there would’ve been more to gain by taking a principled stand. It’s no secret I want Plaid Cymru to be more like the SNP and present itself as an anti-establishment force; it’s impossible to do that while wrapped in an ermine robe.
A Tory-Plaid coalition?
Had it been said on 1 April, you’d have been forgiven for thinking it a foolish joke. The Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies MP, suggested that the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru should work together to end Labour’s hegemony over Wales. Davies claimed the parties have shared priorities when it comes to agriculture and the Welsh language. This assertion is hardly consistent with the Conservative Party in Wales’ communications or actions in recent times.
Former Conservative special advisor (SpAd) Lauren McEvatt reacted on X: “From someone who went apeshit over me sitting on an independent commission looking at the viability of independence as a Conservative this is a bit rich.” McEvatt is referring to the independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales, which concluded that independence is a viable option for the nation. Davies reacted negatively to the Commission’s findings, branding them “hugely concerning” and dismissing the final report as “constitutional navel-gazing”.
With Plaid Cymru’s stated aim being an independent Wales, it’s hard to see how Davies sees Plaid as compatible with his, and his party’s, views to the degree in which a cooperation agreement or coalition becomes viable. To the shock of almost nobody, Plaid Cymru ruled out a cooperation agreement with the Conservative Party, witheringly branding Davies’ calls “the latest scramble for relevance in the face of impending electoral oblivion”.
Having offered Gething a cooperation agreement just two weeks ago, and playing fast and loose – particularly with the term ‘coalition’ – when it comes to Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservatives are throwing proposals around like confetti at the moment. Whether or not they’re just flirting for funsies, it’s highly unlikely that there’ll be a wedding.
