Senedd harassment not taken seriously - ex-MS Nerys Evans

Rhys ab Owen was found to have shown "no remorse," the Senedd's standards committee found

The Senedd complaint system means victims do not feel confident raising issues, says an ex-politician who found bullying and harassment in her party.

Former Plaid Cymru MS Nerys Evans said the Welsh Parliament must be able to remove politicians for inappropriate behaviour.

Plaid's Rhys ab Owen will be banned for six weeks having been found to have inappropriately touched two women.

The Senedd said it takes these matters extremely seriously.

An investigation by the Senedd standards commissioner Douglas Bain said Mr ab Owen had shown "no remorse" for the events in June 2021.

In one instance he was found to have inappropriately touched a woman by squeezing her thigh in a taxi. The report said Mr ab Owen denied improper conduct.

Details of the investigation by Mr Bain were published by the Senedd's standards committee on Wednesday, which called for the Welsh Parliament to implement a 42-day ban.

Former MS Nerys Evans says the Senedd must have a system like Westminster where it can remove politicians

Speaking to the BBC's Politics Wales, Ms Evans said the party now faced a test in whether to expel Mr ab Owen.

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In 2023, she led a review which found a "culture of harassment, bullying and misogyny" within Plaid - a report which eventually led to the resignation of leader Adam Price.

"There's systems in place now, I fully expect that this case specifically will be put through the disciplinary process within the Senedd group and the party," she said.

"I'm confident with the changes that Plaid have put in place that that wouldn't happen again."

She said the Senedd itself, however, needs to change the way it tackles issues.

She said cases of harassment, bullying and sexual harassment should be dealt with by an independent system rather that the standards commissioner.

'Tinkering around the edges'

Ms Evans, now director at Deryn public affairs agency, said: "We know that sexual harassment, and harassment and bullying, is happening quite often in the Senedd, has done for 25 years, and very, very rarely do people use the complaints system."

"We've had #MeToo, we've had the standards committee five years ago looking at these issues. Nothing has been done, they've been tinkering around the edges."

She believed the Senedd taking evidence and giving recommendations to other organisations with "inadequate procedures for dealing with inappropriate behaviour" was "hypocritical" as "their house is not in order".

There is a case for Welsh government intervention, Ms Evans added.

"The Senedd aren't taking it seriously enough, despite overwhelming evidence that our complaints system is unfit for purpose to deal with harassment, sexual harassment and bullying.

"We need to grapple this - the behaviour is not stopping, it's carrying on because it's been unchallenged."

Welsh Secretary David TC Davies says Senedd members must adhere to the same standards as Westminster

Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake has already said Mr ab Owen, who represents South Wales Central, should have faced losing his seat for inappropriate behaviour towards women.

But unlike Westminster, where a recall petition can trigger a by-election in such circumstances, no such procedure exists in the Senedd for removing MSs.

Ms Evans backed calls for a recall mechanism, as did the Conservative Welsh Secretary, David TC Davies.

"Everyone in politics needs to adhere to a high standard of behaviour at all times," the MP for Monmouth told Politics Wales.

Referencing current plans by Labour and Plaid Cymru for Senedd expansion, he added: "They've managed to find a way to increase by a huge amount the number of Senedd members.

"But they seemed to have failed completely to figure out how they're going to ensure that people adhere to the same high standards that are expected in Westminster."

A spokesperson for the Senedd added: "The Standards of Conduct Committee is currently working with the standards commissioner, political parties and other stakeholders to develop options for strengthening individual members' accountability.

"This covers a range of issues including recall of members, disqualification arrangements and the sanctions available to the Standards of Conduct Committee when a complaint about a member is upheld. It is important to take the time to consult on these complex issues and to get it right."

The Welsh government said: "Standards of conduct regarding Members of the Senedd, including disciplinary and staffing matters, are a matter for the Senedd and Senedd Commission."

It later added it had asked the Standards of Conduct Committee "to investigate further measures to strengthen accountability of individual members in future".