Neil McEvoy withdraws application to re-join Plaid Cymru

Assembly Member Neil McEvoy has withdrawn his application to re-join Plaid Cymru.

He cited an “absence of natural justice” and “due process” as the reasons behind the move.

“My entire professional focus is on holding the Government to account,” he said.

“I fully support the aims of Plaid Cymru and am truly appreciative of all the support from grassroots members who share the same views on sovereignty, freedom of speech, due process and natural justice.”

Neil McEvoy was due to face a second hearing today after the first failed to come to a decision. The first panel was dissolved in June after details of the first hearing were leaked to press.

In a letter, Neil McEvoy lists a number of complaints against the process, including:

• That the members of the new panel were not impartial
• That he was not given adequate time to prepare for the latest hearing
• That details of the first hearing were leaked to the media in a “malicious” way with the intention of forcing the first panel to be dissolved
• That he found out about the decision to dissolve the first panel through social media
• That he was not consulted about the date, time and venue of the second hearing

Plaid Cymru’s AMs voted to suspend the South Wales Central AM in October 2017.

Under Plaid Cymru standing orders, an Assembly Member suspended from the Assembly group can make an appeal to the party’s National Executive Committee to be reinstated.