There is significant discontent within Plaid Cymru at the culture that critics claim has developed under Adam Price’s leadership.
WalesOnline has spoken to several people within the party, who have described an increasingly toxic atmosphere. Some have expressed concern that ability is not rewarded while the leader surrounds himself with a "clique" of close associates. People told us they were scared to report allegations or felt they would face repercussions for raising them. Others have raised concerns that when allegations are raised, the party's processes are opaque and ineffective.
Mr Price remains popular with close supporters, and his speech at the party conference was very well received, but our investigation has revealed an increasingly divided party. Plaid sources have described the party management of complaints as “unprofessional”. Testimony from people within the party paints a picture of staff members being “scared” to report concerns and frustrations that complaints are not diligently investigated.
Read more: Plaid Cymru Senedd member suspended following 'alleged breach of code of conduct'
The party has faced several serious incidents over the past several years. The handling of the return of MP Jonathan Edwards, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, with different parts of the party giving contradictory messages was chaotic. It created deep divisions , especially around the readmittance of Mr Edwards which led his estranged wife to issue a statement saying she was appalled.
The party was also forced to issue a statement more recently saying it was investigating after a former Plaid employee made allegations in a series of since-deleted tweets alleging a serious assault by another party employee.
This raised broader themes over people feeling unable to report serious accusations which is something that was raised time and again over the course of WalesOnline’s investigation. The culture of the party under the current leadership was raised repeatedly.
The anger that has simmered below the surface with how allegations were dealt with by senior party leaders has come to a head with the suspension of Plaid Member for South Wales Central Rhys ab Owen. He was suspended for allegedly breaching the code of conduct for MSs and is currently being investigated by the Standard’s Commissioner. According to the party the suspension was "mutually agreed" and was a "neutral act". Mr ab Owen has not commented.
It isn’t the suspension of Mr ab Owen per se that has led to strong criticism of Adam Price within the party, but more the fact that it is perceived to have taken far too long to act. WalesOnline understands that the concerns that led to Mr Owen’s suspension have been known to the party leadership for well over a year and were common knowledge within large parts of the wider party. But critics of Mr Price say that it was only after the matter began to be investigated by the standards commissioner that the Plaid leader’s hand was “forced” and he acted.
A Plaid employee told WalesOnline: “The party has been aware for over a year about serious allegations surrounding Rhys ab Owen’s behaviour. Repeated concerns have been raised by multiple people within the party with members of the senior leadership seemingly taking no action until they were forced to when the Standards Commissioner informed them he had received a complaint of sufficient seriousness, it has led to a suspension.”
Beyond the allegations regarding Mr Thomas there has been wider exasperation and incredulity at the lack of robustness and professionalism within the party itself about how complaints are dealt with when they arise. Several sources said that there was a growing reluctance to report any concerns due to the perceived inaction.
“People have been left frustrated and often frankly scared at what felt like a failure to take allegations seriously,” said the Plaid employee. “Faith in the party’s disciplinary processes is now so compromised after repeated failures, it risks people being put off from coming forward for fear allegations won’t be properly acted upon.
“There is growing concern within the party at the sheer number of allegations swirling around, with a feeling that action is only taken when they’re investigated by an outside body. It is completely unfair for staff to be expected to work under such conditions, constantly dealing with feelings of fear and anxiety for the welfare of colleagues, while being told that we are the ones who will be subject to disciplinary action if we dare to speak out.”
WalesOnline always endeavours to shine a light on issues such as are raised in this article. If you wish to tell your story or raise concerns you can email will.hayward@walesonline.co.uk. We always protect our sources.
The feeling of being unable to speak out comes, according to several sources, from the culture under leader Adam Price. They fear that people with legitimate concerns are being put off from raising issues because of a lack of faith in the party leadership.
Multiple sources present a picture of Mr Price as having an “inner circle” or “clique” around him. They argue that it is the presence of this group that contributes to an unwillingness of people within the party to air grievances. One source told WalesOnline that “Adam decides who are his favourite people” and that “I know people who used to be in that circle, and for various reasons, have fallen out of favour, and then they find themselves in the wilderness”.
The overwhelming consensus was that changes were urgently needed to how complaints are dealt with.
“There's absolutely no incentive for people to put in formal complaints,” said a source. “Because they know that the power is concentrated in the hands of Adam and his clique. Frankly, who wants to put themselves in an exposed position against people who are supremely powerful in the party?”
WalesOnline approached Plaid Cymru, the Welsh parliamentary party and Mr Price himself regarding the concerns raised. We put to them the delay in concerns being raised and Rhys ap Owen’s eventual suspension. We also put to them the wider concerns about bullying, fear and a perception that grievances could not be raised.
In response a Plaid Cymru spokesman: “Plaid Cymru treats all complaints with the utmost seriousness and the welfare of complainants is always of paramount importance. We do not comment on any ongoing investigations and would caution others not to engage in presumption or hearsay which could misrepresent or compromise due process."
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