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Alun Ffred Jones re-elected Plaid Cymru Chair as bid to replace him fails

05 Oct 2019 2 minute read
Dewi Evans (left) and Alun Ffred Jones (right). Alun Ffred picture by the National Assembly (CC BY 2.0).

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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Sibrydionmawr
Sibrydionmawr
4 years ago

And so, Plaid shoots itself in the foot once again and kisses goodbye any chance of winning Cardiff West in the next Assembly elections.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
4 years ago
Reply to  Sibrydionmawr

It’s the choice of party members. It’s called democracy – try reading up on it sometime

Keith Evansis
Keith Evansis
4 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Democracy is still able to make disastrous decisions,no need to be an ………..a******e!

Richard Jenkins
Richard Jenkins
4 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

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.

Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards
4 years ago

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.

Idris
Idris
4 years ago

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

Sibrydionmawr
Sibrydionmawr
4 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

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 »

vaughan richards
vaughan richards
4 years ago
Reply to  Sibrydionmawr

“a man with a history of bullying” Cangen tref Llanelli?

Steve Thomas
4 years ago

A disestrous result for the party’s future electoral chances

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
4 years ago
Reply to  Steve Thomas

A ‘disestrous’ comment ?

Dewi Evans
Dewi Evans
4 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

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 »

Steve Thomas
4 years ago

A disastrous result for Plaids future electoral chances

paul
paul
4 years ago

Anyone know the total votes for each candidate ? Or where I could get them?

paul
paul
4 years ago
Reply to  paul

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 »

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
4 years ago
Reply to  paul

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 !

Max Wallis
Max Wallis
4 years ago
Reply to  paul

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.

paul
paul
4 years ago
Reply to  Max Wallis

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.

Glen
Glen
4 years ago

Plaid members vote for continued stagnation, proving what we already know that most of them are terrified of electoral success.

Ant
Ant
4 years ago
Reply to  Glen

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?

Phil Jones
Phil Jones
4 years ago

And Drakeford smiles in relief

Anne Greagsby
Anne Greagsby
4 years ago

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.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
4 years ago

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 »

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
4 years ago

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!

Gwylon Phillips
Gwylon Phillips
4 years ago

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.

Gwynedd
Gwynedd
4 years ago

Lol botes maip

howell williams
4 years ago
Reply to  Gwynedd

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 ..

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