Leader of the Plaid Cymru Party in Wales, Adam Price, has vacated his position after investigations discovered him of misogyny, harassment, and bullying in the party. A new leader will be appointed in the summer, per the statement of the the party.
It comes after months of problems at Plaid party, including allegations of sexual assault and poor working culture. Mr. Price stated in his resignation letter that he no longer had the “united support” of his colleagues.
He stated that, he has to step down as a result of the report’s outcome, but was initially convinced not to. “You have my personal assurance that I will continue to serve my country, my constituents and our party with determination and enthusiasm,” Adam Price wrote in his letter to party chairman, Marc Jones.
Decision was made, following a meeting of the party’s hierarchy, the National Executive Committee (NEC). Information that was gathered from the meeting, was that, some members discussed Adam Price remaining in office. However, considering the significance of the findings, it was deemed unacceptable.
The Senedd group of the party will convene on soon to make plans for a temporary leader. Plaid Cymru is a third force party in the Welsh Parliament, with 12 Senedd lawmakers and three Westminster MPs. The pro-independence party has agreed to work with the Welsh Labour government.
Mr. Jones, the party’s chairman, applauded Mr. Price “for his drive and vision over the past four and a half years.” Mr. Price became party leader in 2018 after succeeding Leanne Wood. Andrew RT Davies, a Welsh Conservative leader commented on Mr. Price’s resignation, saying, “I have no doubt Adam Price’s departure is a moment of personal sadness for him.
“Following the recent report into the culture within their party, it became clear Plaid Cymru politicians no longer had confidence in his leadership, so his departure became inevitable,” Andrew averred.
Plaid Cymru has been hit by rumors of a toxic culture in the party since last year. It became known last November that, a top member of staff was accused of sexual assault. Not all, a severe claim was made about the behavior of a Senedd member, Rhys ab Owen, who has been suspended from the Senedd group awaiting investigation.
Nerys Evans’ Report
Last December, the party contacted Nerys Evans, a lobbyist and former Plaid assembly member, to conduct investigations into series of allegations against their members. Her report disclosed that Senedd need to “detoxify a culture of harassments, bullying, and misogyny.”
The report also claimed that, too many instances of inappropriate behavior were permitted, and that a confidential poll of employees and elected officials revealed instances of “sexual harassment, bullying, and discrimination.”
Adam Price agreed to the fact that, the findings have “harmed and tarnished” the good image of Plaid Cymru. He went on to apologized but refused to quit. “On receiving the report, I informed you that I felt morally bound to step down as leader of the party in recognition of our collective failure,” Mr. Price wrote in his resignation letter.
“You counselled against my resignation as you felt it would make it more difficult to achieve progress in implementing the recommendations.”
“It is now clear I no longer have the united support of my colleagues that would be necessary to follow this course to fruition,” Price explained in his resignation Letter.
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