New McEvoy party rejected by Electoral Commission once more over ‘confusingly similar’ name

Neil McEvoy’s new party has had its chosen name Welsh Nation Party rejected by the Electoral Commission once more because it remains “confusingly similar” to Plaid Cymru.

Neil McEvoy told Nation.Cymru that they would be known as Propel from now on.

The party formerly known as Welsh Nation Party was previously removed from the register of political parties following a threat of legal action by Plaid Cymru over their name.

The party was originally registered as the Welsh National Party and had requested the Welsh-language name Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru.

Welsh National Party was rejected in May of last year and the application for a name change to Welsh Nation Party / Plaid y Genedl Gymreig was rejected on Monday and announced today.

Nation.Cymru also understands that another application was withdrawn in October of last year.

A Plaid Cymru source told Nation.Cymru: “It’s vitally important that it’s clear to voters that these are very different political parties, with distinct principles and values.

“Plaid Cymru has and always will defend its historic name and it seems as though the Electoral Commission agreed that the party was right to do so.

“An attempt to name a new party ‘Plaid Cenedl Cymru’ when ‘Plaid Cymru’ already exists is an obvious ploy to mislead.”

Elected

Neil McEvoy reacted: “We are living in anti-democratic times, the age of faceless bureaucrats who dictate how we live. We have waited 13 months for this Establishment stitch up to come to its conclusion.

“We have been given just two weeks to submit a new application just four months away from an election. I believe this was deliberate, in order to damage our election chances and to rule out the possibility of judicial review, with the election being so close.

“The powers that be are stopping at nothing to protect their First Minister, with the assistance of their little helpers. We intend to propel Wales forward, which is why we will be known as Propel from now on. What matters is what we will do, not what we are called.

“Propel will usher in a democratic revolution in Wales. We are of the people, for the people. We will propel Wales forward by moving the Establishment out of the way. We will put power in the hands of the people and we will get our lives back by doing this. These are exciting political times.”

The latest rejection leaves the party in a tricky spot as the deadline for delivery of nomination papers for the Senedd election is in fewer than three months.

Listing the reasons for the rejection, the Electoral Commission said: “Confusingly similar to another already registered party. Likely to mislead voters as to the effect of their vote.”

Neil McEvoy was originally elected for Plaid Cymru to represent the South Wales Central region in 2016 before being expelled in 2017. He withdrew his application to re-join Plaid Cymru in July of 2019 and registered the new Welsh National Party in January of 2020.

He plans to stand in the First Minister’s seat of Cardiff West where he came second in the 2016 election as a Plaid Cymru candidate.