Plaid Cymru criticised for taking part in lobbying event involving candidate who doubles as a lobbyist
Martin Shipton
Plaid Cymru has been criticised for participating in a networking event organised by a lobbying firm, one of whose directors is a Plaid Senedd candidate.
The ‘Meet the Candidates’ event took place yards from the Senedd at the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC) in Cardiff Bay on Thursday September 11.
It was run by lobbying firm Cavendish Cymru, and marketed to businesses and organisations as an opportunity to rub shoulders with Plaid politicians who may have a role in the Welsh Government after next May’s Senedd election.
Nerys Evans, a former Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, is hoping to make a political comeback, and will be the party’s number two candidate in the Sir Gaerfyrddin super-constituency, covering the whole of Carmarthenshire. She is also a director of Cavendish Cymru.
Deryn Consulting
Previously Ms Evans was a director of Deryn Consulting, which she ran with former Labour special adviser Cathy Owens. Deryn was taken over by London-based Cavendish Communications in January 2025, but Ms Evans and Ms Owens stayed on as directors of the company’s Welsh operation.
The WMC event coincided with a Plaid Cymru summer school being held in the same building and most Plaid MSs were present, including party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.
The Cavendish event was an opportunity for the lobbying company to sell its election package to potential clients and secure access to Plaid candidates for existing clients. Those present were addressed from the podium by Nerys Evans.
Cavendish posted on social media a video shot outside the Wales Millennium Centre. The narrator said: “Cavendish Cymru are here at the brilliant Wales Millennium Centre today for our ‘Meet The Candidates’ event with Plaid Cymru. We’ve got a load of Plaid Cymru candidates here today from across Wales, engaging directly with businesses and organisations about what a Plaid Cymru government after May 2026 might mean to them. Opinion polls are projecting that Plaid Cymru are well in the race to be leading the next Welsh government and there will be implications for businesses and oirganisations not just in Wales but across the UK.Cavendish Cymru will be here to support you from now until election day with all the data, the news, the insights of the campaign. So get in touch with us today and find out how we can help.”
A written message is displayed at the end of the video, stating: “Cavendish: Insight. Influence. Creativity.”
‘Resign’
A source who contacted Nation.Cymru about the event told us: “Shouldn’t Nerys now she’s number two in Carmarthenshire resign her position as a lobbyist? Currently, Nerys is pushing the private interest of those paying her and giving them access to potential decision makers. The voters of Carmarthenshire have a right to ask is Nerys Evans acting in their best interest or on the behalf of paying clients?
“In a nutshell, the role of lobbyist and politician needs to be kept separate. Nerys Evans’ actions are creating serious ethical risks and mix public duty with private gain.”
Jeff Jones, a former Labour leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, said: “It’s disgraceful. We live in a democracy. The only people that Senedd Members should listen to are their constituents. Here we have a company basically saying to business we can get you privileged access to the politicians who make the laws in Wales. It’s corrupt. Simple as that. Weren’t we promised in 1997 that the new Assembly would usher in a different sort of politics in Wales? What happened?”
Questions
We sent three questions to Plaid Cymru:
Why is Plaid Cymru making its MSs and candidates available to lobbyists?
How does the party feel about the fact that a lobbying company is marketing itself to businesses as able to help them get access to and influence a future Plaid government?.
Does Plaid Cymru not see any conflict of interest in the fact that one of its lead candidates is also working for the lobbying company that is marketing itself in this way?
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: “It’s standard practice for political parties to engage with a wide range of stakeholders. Plaid Cymru ensures this is done transparently and to a high ethical standard.”
Ms Evans did not respond to our request for comment.
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But Reform would never do something unethical, never ever ever. ..
This is a weak argument. Plaid allowed Cavendish to picky back their Summer School for financial gain. And let’s remember that Cavendish is an English company.
“An English company”
Oh the horror
Not a weak argument. Reform has, and will do much worse
But does that make this right? Shouldn’t Plaid be leading the way?
I really can’t see anything wrong with this. It’s open to Labour to extend the same opportunity via Cathy Owens, and Nerys Evans is only doing her present job, while Plaid, like every party, needs to interact with lobbyists and businesses.
What’s wrong is that Plaid offered this to one London based company that has one of its candidates as directors. It gives Cavendish and its clients an unfair commercial advantage. Its unethical
Sorry – this just stinks. How was this to a ‘high ethical standard?’ Cavendish and their clients were given unfair access just because Nerys Evans is a lobbyist and politician.
Farcical. Any serious politicians should step down from such roles once selected; this is a glaring conflict of interest,. People make a lot of money from such events! It also speaks badly to Plaid’s vetting process; if she wasn’t prepared to stand down, why is she on the list. Are there actually any plans stand down?!
It’s not a conflict until they’re elected. Most candidates have a full-time job they won’t give up until (if) they are elected.
Of course it is a conflict. Under the closed list system she is guaranteed a seat. She is now using her position within Plaid to push the interests of her English company and private clients.
Should every candidate give up their job?
In this case, she should have resigned. Being paid to lobby her future colleagues?! As I say, plaid vetting is poor and shouldn’t have let her be a candidate in the first place
But what if she worked for a company paying to lobby?
If you’re demanding a new rule you need to be clear how it will work.
And don’t forget that the Newport Chartists demanded a system that didn’t prevent ordinary folk from becoming representatives.
Making someone give up their job before they’re elected is heading back to the days that only the landed gentry can afford to stand.
Unless you want to compensate people who stand and aren’t elected?
I’m not saying all candidates should give up jobs in between being selected and being voted in. In fact there are no rules in Westminster or Cardiff about this.
However, in westminster, the main parties vet their candidates and there are norms. And this is an example where would the candidate would never have been allowed to run. In westminster, she would have been given an ultimatum, resign from this role, or you can’t stand.
It’s not even clear to me if she intends to remain in this role post election as a second job.
Rob W has posted a link below that suggests plenty of lobbyists stand for election to Westminster.
And I’m up for banning all second jobs. So why not campaign for that instead of selectively confecting and targeting outrage when it suits your politics.
She’s CERTAINLY not guaranteed a seat. She’s number two on the list under the Plaid’s constituency pairing system where if a man is first on the list, a woman is second. and vice versa in the paired constituency
Personally, if I’d been voting in the Plaid selection in Caerfyrddin I wouldn’t have voted for her, but it’s only by winning enough votes overall in Caerfyrddin under the De Hont system that she’ll go in
Agreed – but Nerys Evans is not the wisest, and should have not appeared as the ‘face’ of Cavendish. She is likely because of her high position on the list, to get in. But then, if I were in her constituency I’d have voted for rhe other five ahead of her
Typical Deryn – Cathy and Nerys behave like the own the Bay. They have no shame but we remember what they did and have blood on their hands!
Correct, and this will be used come election time…that episode tarnished the Senedd!!!
The only reason Nerys Evans is second on the Plaid Cymru candidate list for MS in Caerfyrddin is that she possesses XX chromosomes. On the other hand we have an excellent female MP elected on purely on merit who did a real job prior to selection with no lobby schmoosing required.
Lobbying is a big scab on Senedd’s activities. It goes on far too much and leads to bias in decision making. The Senedd knows its bad otherwise they would have a register of lobbyists and a public record of contacts made.
If you think Senedd lobbying is bad you know nothing about what goes on in Westminster
That makes Senedd good ? Wake up, stop making feeble excuses by pointing to other delinquents.
Not what I expect from Plaid. This is like a fart in a lift. Wrong on so many levels.
Lobbyists should not be allowed to stand as politicians. They’ve chosen to get paid for trying to influence politicians, they cant then get elected and pretend to be neutral. Its farcical… imagine a lobbyist getting paid by a windfarm company, then getting elected and supporting windfarms… if you objected to said windfarm, you’d conclude the process was rigged… Just another stain on Cardiff Bay
Cathy and Nerys up to their old tricks again! One question I have, when is the Reform event? When is the Conservative event? Labour?
Or more importantly when will other Welsh based companies be offered the same exposure by Plaid? Don’t hold your breath?
Scanning the room and on other pictures, there aren’t many companies there. It’s mostly 3rd sector organisations and charities. So tax payer money being used to lobby our politicians!
Don’t worry. They’ll come, like wasps to a jampot
“The only people that Senedd Members should listen to are their constituents”
And those constituents are saying “we want more jobs and better paying jobs” which doesn’t happen without talking to businesses.
I bet not one new job will be created after that session except jobs for the boys or should I say girls?!
Then you should be arguing for a better way of engaging with business.
Plaid weren’t talking to businesses. Looking at the attendees, they were talking to a load of third sector organisations and quangos who largely rely public funds to survive.
What’s harmful about building relationships between these organisations, or businesses, and government?
As long as there’s no personal gain for directly influencing policies, why shouldn’t businesses have a way to communicate what they need to create more jobs or boost exports? Why shouldn’t charities and community groups discuss the challenges they’re facing on the ground? Why shouldn’t housing associations explain what’s stopping then building more homes?
And why shouldn’t government use this information to improve policymaking?
As far as I can make out political Lobbying firms seem to be the equivalent of ticked touts.
Fixed price tickets are available to all members of the public.
More people want tickets than tickets are available.
But If you can afford the extra you can pay a tout and so always be sure of getting a ticket.
If you can’t afford the extra you don’t get to see the show/game.
What’s Plaid Cymru’s position on ticket touts.
Has any government solved this? There needs to be ways for business and other organisations to communicate with government otherwise government won’t understand the consequences of their actions or inactions. But clearly paying money to get this access risks inappropriate or disproportionate influence for those that can afford it, and incomplete understanding of reality for government. The existence of lobbyists implies an absence of a better system, but what is that better system?
There are currently four Welsh Government Public Consultations that are live – support for unpaid careers; petitions arrangements; draft budget and education reforms. There are also fifty five Open Petitions that are live which provide an opportunity for government to be alerted/informed of issues that concern the public/NGOs/businesses or individuals. The system like any other system could be improved and needs updating as required but it appears that to a large degree a reasonable system is in place.. There are already opportunities for governments and prospective governments to understand the consequences of actions or inactions. A Lobbyist system serves those… Read more »
So if a major exporter is going to be forced to make 1000 job cuts in Wales if a new law passes without a minor tweak that doesn’t substantially water down the proposals, they must start a petition and hope enough people sign it to get it debated before anyone in cabinet can find out that their flagship policy is going to cost jobs?
Consultation only works if they know there’s a problem to better understand.
There has to be a better way to connect to government. They can’t be expected to fly blind.
If a thousand jobs are threatened then that major exporter can already seek to contact ministers and government directly. They also have the option of alerting the media in various ways.
It’s up to government to then consider and respond competently to the information that the exporter provides.
No fees no freebies and no [or at least much less] whiff of unfair dealings.
The same process that a major exporter can use if its profits or freedom to continue to operate with weaker restrictions are threatened.
Which frankly are more realistic and likely scenarios than the one you’ve outlined.
They can write a strongly worded letter which never reaches the minister, and media ignores them until they actually fire the staff (that headline gets the clicks) when it’s too late to do anything about it. Now reverse the project fear scenario, and imagine that a small change to regulations that doesn’t water them down significantly could allow the exporter to create 1000 new jobs. Shouldn’t the minister be aware of that, without relying on media that only trades on fear headlines. There needs to be a partnership between government and all the entities that contribute to the economy. Of… Read more »
FromWiki
‘ Professional lobbyists are people whose business is trying to influence legislation, regulation, or other government decisions, actions, or policies on behalf of a group or individual who hires them.‘
My underlining.
I support lobbying but not what is basically the pay for access or better access to decision makers etc service that lobbying firms provide to those who can pay.
You wrote-
‘Your [CapM’s]assumption that all companies are the enemy‘
Which in itself is an assumption by you.
I think Welsh Gov should hold quarterly external engagement briefings that businesses, unions, third sector organisations and journalists can attend which work like party conferences with networking opportunities, exhibition stands, presentation sessions covering upcoming policy changes with q&a senior officials and relevent ministers plus the opportunity to book one-to-one surgery sessions with key government figures just like voters can do with their MP. Of course you’d need an external events company to organise this who would charge entry to cover the venue, catering and their own costs. Which of course could still be spun as professional lobbyists selling access to… Read more »
Presume Cavendish Cymru sponsored the whole day. How much did Plaid pocket?
We need answers.
Plaid Cymru is owned by lobbyists. I was given a choice of either shutting up about Deryn’s dodgy Ofcom contract or face the consequences. Facing consequences is always better than being owned. Well done Nation for reporting on this.
If rules were broken why didn’t relevant authorities take action.
If the rules aren’t up to the job, then campaign to fix the rules.
The rules were fixed by corrupt Senedd members to suit their own purposes and rule out radical upstarts like Neil. The man was making waves and could endanger the cosy little earners most A.S’s value above all other things.
Then campaign to improve the rules.
The way to fix this is to have a register of professional lobbyists at the Senedd – the UK Parliament at Westminster does and so does the Scottish parliament. Its a complete mystery why after 25 years of devolution in Wales the Welsh parliament doesnt have a lobbyist register (some people have claimed its lobbying by the lobbyists themselves which has prevented the Senedd having such a register – as a lifelong supporter of Welsh devolution i sincerely hope those claims are not true).
And deny those on the register from ever standing for any election?
Hardly a mystery as lobbyists have wholly disproportionate access and influence. It’s a gravy train.
They did take action and they lost the contract. I did face the consequences and was expelled. I was advised to re-apply 12 months later. I reapplied for membership, but withdrew my application. Too much stank, including Plaid’s fury for me saying that their paedophile Senedd Member deserved jail. That brought them into disrepute apparently and landed me in disciplinary trouble. That was enough for me.
If the process works then all that’s needed is a formal complaint without any of the grandstanding.
So says the arch-manipulator of the media himself
Are there any politicians in Westminster or the Senedd who don’t meet lobbying groups? Look at all the Labour and Tory politicians who are in the pockets of pro-Israeli lobbying groups (and getting plenty of donations from them as well).
Indeed. The issue here is someone who is employed as a professional lobbyist – but who is also a candidate for the senedd- being involved in a event for Senedd candidates staged by the lobbying company she works for …….you’re being very naive Rob if you cant see how bad this looks (not to say potentially damaging for plaid).
You say it could be damaging for Plaid, but which party do you think they could turn to as an alternative that haven’t been guilty of the doing same thing? If you think other parties haven’t been guilty of doing the same thing, then I would say that you’re being rather naive.
I dont know about you Rob but I have greater aspirations for plaid – and indeed for Wales – than doing something which is clearly wrong just because others have. I really ike to think we are better than that in plaid.
Perhaps I am being a little cynical David, but that does seem to be the world we live in these days. Just look at what’s happening in the USA, and I fear Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Nigel Fartage are doing their level best to drag us all to the same level. Trouble is, I’m not sure that rising above it all actually works. I hope I’m wrong!!
In politics you have to play the ball where it lies, not where you want it to be. If you don’t, someone else will. But that doesn’t prevent you from redesigning the course or changing the rules of the game once you take control of the governing body.
Good luck with trying to find a major party to vote for who don’t meet with lobbying groups.
This is concerning – and smacks of the cronyism we normally associate with places like Westminster. And when we campaigned for devolution back in the day i recall us saying we wanted to do things ‘differently’ to Westminster. But even the Westminster Parliament now has a register of lobbyists. Despite a quarter of a century of welsh devolution there still isnt a register of professional lobbyists in the Senedd. This is a scandal and must be addressed as a matter of urgency. And as a plaid cymru supporter I expect to see a committment to creating a register of paid… Read more »
Agreed, David
This makes for an interesting read. It seems that 103 professional lobbyists stood for election at last year’s General Election: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2024/07/revealed-the-103-professional-lobbyists-hoping-to-become-mps. It seems to be far more common than most people realise.
It may be more common than people realise Rob but Westminster has a register of professional lobbyists – so if a lobbyist stands for MP they have to declare it. Alas no such register exists at the Senedd – so the only way we find out if candidates are professional lobbyists is thanks to reports like this one in Nation Cymru. The Senedd should have a professional lobbyists register – its frankly inexplicable that after 25 years of devolution we still dont have one in Wales (a glaring ommission for which it must be said welsh labour also bears a… Read more »
Yes, I wouldn’t disagree with your point David, but that is an issue that the Senedd needs to sort out.
Nerys Evans was never the sharpest tool in the Plaid Cymru block. I question the wisdom of using Cavendish despite the Deryn connection that brought Nerys Evans in as its Wales ‘face’. She really should have sat this one out.
Nerys was always a slippery one. And an awful public speaker.
Cavendish Consultants are based at ‘One Bartholomew’ which is a prime new office building within Barts Square, a three-acre mixed use development that also contains retail units, restaurants and apartments. An exceedingly costly set up.Situated in the bustling Central London district of Farringdon, this 12-storey structure provides tenants with amenities entirely befitting the contemporary workforce. The design is integrated into extensive public realm improvements to create a pedestrian-friendly scheme enlivened by places to eat, drink and socialise at ground level. It oozes with upper middle class Englishness. You’d think Plaid Cymru’s Nerys Evans clique would use some ‘in house’ –… Read more »