Council leader resigns after calling Plaid Cymru Senedd Member a ‘cow’

The leader of Neath Port Talbot Council has resigned after a recording emerged of him calling a Plaid Senedd Member a “cow”.

Councillor Rob Jones made the comment about Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Bethan Sayed at a meeting in 2019.

The Labour councillor said the recording was edited to make it look worse than it was, and that his comments “does not reflect my values”.

He has left his role as leader of the council and asked the public services ombudsman to investigate.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price had earlier called on the First Minister Mark Drakeford to investigate the recording saying that it included “inappropriate and misogynistic” language about a Senedd member.

A voice is heard on the recording saying: “Bethan Sayed…the cow that she is…”

Adam Price also said that the recording raised concerns about “the proper stewardship of public funds by a Welsh public authority”.

He said that if the recording does come from a senior party member then the First Minister should “demand their resignation with immediate effect”.

The full recording has been published here on the ‘Save our Schools’ Facebook page.

‘Preferences’

Bethan Sayed, MS for South Wales, who was named in the recording, said she found it to be “despicable”.

“Many comments made in this recording suggest worrying and deeply improper practices at the top of Neath Port Talbot Labour-run council, and I call for a full investigation into this issue, as a matter of urgency,” she said.

“No decisions should be made based on political preferences. This is deeply worrying, as it could directly impact communities across NPT, undermine democracy, and people’s faith in the Council long term.

“Plaid Cymru will be writing to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to ask them to investigate these matters fully”.