Alun Ffred Jones re-elected Plaid Cymru Chair as bid to replace him fails
A bid to replace ex-Arfon Assembly Member Alun Ffred Jones as Plaid Cymru Chair failed on the second day of the party’s annual conference in Swansea.
Dr Dewi Evans, who had expressed support for allowing independent Assembly Member Neil McEvoy back into the party, was defeated in the conference vote.
“I am very grateful to Plaid Cymru members for putting your faith in me to continue in my role as Chair of the Party,” Alun Ffred Jones said in a statement.
“I will continue to work with Adam Price and Plaid members up and down the country to make a Plaid victory in 2021 a reality. Together, we will create a new Wales.”
This weekend’s vote had been seen as a last roll of the dice for Neil McEvoy’s hopes of being allowed back into Plaid Cymru. He had written on his blog this week that “the best thing Plaid can do now to prepare for government is to change its party Chair”.
Neil McEvoy was expelled from Plaid Cymru in March 2018. In July of this year, Neil McEvoy dropped his bid to re-enter Plaid Cymru, alledging a lack of a lack of “natural justice” and “due process”.
His supporters had bid for a number of posts on the party’s executive council including Director of Communications, and South Central Representative, but also failed to be elected.
“Congratulations to Alun Ffred,” Dewi Evans said.
”To the 95% of members not at conference who couldn’t vote, I’ll continue what we’ve started to make sure you play a bigger role in the party.”
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And so, Plaid shoots itself in the foot once again and kisses goodbye any chance of winning Cardiff West in the next Assembly elections.
It’s the choice of party members. It’s called democracy – try reading up on it sometime
Democracy is still able to make disastrous decisions,no need to be an ………..a******e!
Trying to gain electoral advantage by engaging with populism and misogyny would be an expensive mistake. PC has always stayed true to its principles. Putting Cymru first not party.
Figures : Alun Ffed 400, Dewi 139. Clear vote by those who turned up. So Plaid is like Tories, activists dictate the direction of the party. As Vaughan Roderick said, Plaid appears to be lagging behind the electorate. Are the activists even good politicians?
Populism – get to grips with it, no simple answer – read ‘National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy’, Penguins, cheap e-book.
Misogyny – women and men get into fights, in private relationships or the workplace. A man being in dispute with a woman is not a misogynist.
As Neil McEvoy’s barrister are you really in a position to comment on misogyny or anything else for that matter? I think not: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/neil-mcevoy-used-barrister-who-12714933
I do know about democracy, but along with far too much of the established British political system, Plaid doesn’t do democracy properly. In this day and age voting in any organisation should be extended to all qualifying members, and that not artificially restricted by some arcane rule that dictates that only those attending an apparently inaccessible conference can vote. I’m not a member of Plaid, and haven’t been since 1989 when a certain ex member accepted a peerage in the English House of Lords and was allowed to remain in Plaid. I nearly rescinded that decision upon the election of… Read more »
“a man with a history of bullying” Cangen tref Llanelli?
A disestrous result for the party’s future electoral chances
A ‘disestrous’ comment ?
Leigh, (are you the Swansea Leigh whom I’ve met) and others. Firstly let’s stop whingeing. Result is a result. We move on. During the campaign Ffred promised to create an on line forum to liaise with members. Bit slow.! That was my prime manifesto commitment, made several weeks earlier. Ffred is now committed so we can anticipate this being established soon. I was also supportive of on line voting. This would allow participation of all 8,500 members and not 547 (who turned up to Swansea). So let’s watch this space. It’s up to the NEC to make a decision re… Read more »
A disastrous result for Plaids future electoral chances
Anyone know the total votes for each candidate ? Or where I could get them?
Hulo eto. Unwaith eto. Does anyone know where I can obtain the figures? I recently rejoined the Party and on Friday drove down from Neath to vote for Dewi Evans. I arrived around 11am and after a few minutes difficulty getting into the Grand ( there were No signs or directions even showing where the entrance was!). I was not the only one. a young couple were equally baffled on how to gain entry. One chap we met at the door said he had gone round the building twice trying to find the entrance. Anyway. After walking in the rain,… Read more »
Any modern organisation would have enabled voting by e-mail, or post, to enable participation in the “democratic process” and that big fashionable word – inclusivity. And before anyone starts burping on about security it’s been developed and refined for a good while so stop faffing about and do it. Unless, of course, someone doesn’t want it done !
Paul – you would have been told that only members for the last 6 months have a vote. But of course you weren’t told they’d invented this rule to exclude re-joiners too.
Diolch, Max. Was not informed of that, but now I know. Would have saved me a soaking lol. Saw the figures above. Obviously I understand why the rule is there, but I wasn’t aware of it. S’dim ots.
Plaid members vote for continued stagnation, proving what we already know that most of them are terrified of electoral success.
Yep I agree,those of us that won the vote have been also called the minority. We must be the ones not terrified of electoral success then?
And Drakeford smiles in relief
Only winners are Deryn, Mark Drakeford and the labour party. Many were told there was a cut off date for membership and so couldn’t vote.
Let’s see the figures. How many weren’t allowed to vote? Time to reform this undemocratic voting system. Let members have a vote even if they cant get to conference.
Alun Ffred gets re-elected… with a majority of ???? What % of the membership were able to vote ? Interesting to see how the %ages compare with , for example, the Brexit vote which has been hailed by so many as not truly democratic. Now A.Ff ‘s reselection may not prove to be a disaster especially if he sees it as an opportunity to heal some wounds. On the other hand if he sees it as an endorsement for some gratuitous revenge, that will be noted by the wider electorate that the Party wants to win over. Time for a… Read more »
Adam does listen, but.
Truly leftist hallmarks; amateurish, secretive.
I’ll bet the tea was awful.
What now, my loves?
Well, Mr McEvoy, Cymru needs you.
Once again, thank goodness for YES CYMRU!
Plaid want to keep things tight. Keep control for the activists. For all the hype, Plaid isn’t interested in the wider membership. It is only interested in control. After all real power is in the hands of a small minority and that’s how Plaid wants it. But it’s our cash that enables it to feed the so-called elite. Plaid must reform if it wants to reach real people.
Lol botes maip
now after the dust settles how many councilors will plaid have in Cardiff none. after 3 of April the national party of wales will have 66 ..