Disqualified Lib Dem AMs' seats to be declared vacant

John Dixon and Aled Roberts have been disqualified as AMs

The seats of two disqualified Welsh assembly members will be declared officially vacant by the end of the week.

Liberal Democrats Aled Roberts and John Dixon were both members of public bodies to which AMs cannot belong.

The fate of both men, who won their seats by being top of their party's regional lists, will be in the hands of regional returning officers.

Meanwhile, police are investigating a complaint of electoral fraud.

The returning officers must decide whether to press ahead and put forward the party's second-place candidates to become AMs in their place.

The Lib Dems have tried to leave the door open for both to return to the assembly by tabling motions to overturn their disqualifications. The party has blamed an "honest mistake" and says it will co-operate fully with the police.

The Lib Dems withdrew and earlier motion when it emerged Labour AMs would not support it.

The earliest the motion could be timetabled is 14 June and the latest is 29 June.

Mr Dixon was elected on the South Wales Central regional list and Mr Roberts was elected for the North Wales region.

They were disqualified after it emerged Mr Dixon was still a member of the Care Council for Wales, which regulates social care workers, and Mr Roberts was a member of the Valuation Tribunal for Wales, which deals with appeals about business rates and council tax. They have both since resigned.