Senedd backs call for new probe into Ombudsman

The Senedd has backed Conservative calls for an investigation into Wales’s public services watchdog.

Tories called for a Senedd committee to urgently review the operations, processes and investigations carried out by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

It comes after a Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) senior investigator resigned after comments she allegedly made about Conservatives on social media.

The finance committee will discuss its next steps at a meeting next Wednesday.

Labour MSs told BBC Wales that the government may have acted in error in letting the Conservative motion pass on Thursday.

The government had tabled its own amendment, but because there were no objections no vote was held on the Conservative motion.

The Welsh government has been asked to comment.

Conservative Local Government spokesperson Sam Rowlands said: “I’m pleased that the whole Senedd has spoken with one voice in favour of fairness and impartiality."

Sinead Cook resigned on 4 April after allegations she had posted anti-Conservative comments on her social media accounts.

The barrister, James Goudie KC, was appointed to lead a review five days later, but his appropriateness for the job was almost immediately called into question by the Welsh Conservatives because of his links to the Labour party.

Mr Goudie stood for Parliament for Labour in the 1970s, is a former Labour leader of Brent council in London and is co-chair of the human rights sub-group at the Society of Labour Lawyers.

The Ombudsman, Michelle Morris, said she had not been aware of the full extent of Mr Goudie’s political background.

'Give confidence'

Ahead of Wednesday’s debate in the Senedd, Conservative local government spokesperson Sam Rowlands told Radio Wales Breakfast: “This is a pinnacle of what is supposed to be impartial.

"We have two examples over the past couple of weeks where that is clearly not the case.

“A Senedd committee needs to carry out an investigation to ensure that there is impartiality and to give confidence to people that there isn’t such a strong political bias in the organisation.”

But he stopped short of joining the Welsh Secretary David TC Davies in calling for the ombudsman herself to stand down and the office of the ombudsman to be scrapped.

In Wednesday's debate Plaid Cymru MS and chair of the finance committee, Peredur Owen Griffiths, told MSs that he and his colleagues would be discussing the issue next week and would make a decision on whether or not they would take any further action.

Government Culture and Social Justice Secretary Lesley Griffiths said: "We share the concern about recent events.

"But we want to be reassured that the ombudsman has taken the matter seriously. We believe the ombudsman should report back to the senedd through the finance committee."