Plaid Cymru calls party review into anti-Semitism

Plaid Cymru is holding a review following a critical report of Labour's handling of cases

A senior Plaid Cymru politician is to conduct an anti-Semitism review for the party.

Liz Saville Roberts' study aims to ensure the party has a "zero-tolerance" approach.

It comes after the Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was concerned anti-Jewish prejudice is "tolerated within Plaid Cymru".

They made the comments after Plaid took no action against Sahar Al-Faifi over claims she sent an anti-Semitic tweet.

News of the review came on the same day it was announced that Ms Al-Faifi came fourth in the selection for the South Wales Central Plaid Cymru list.

It means she will be on the regional list for the 2021 Senedd election but is unlikely to join the 60-member chamber.

• No action after Plaid member's anti-Semitism probe

• What does the Labour anti-Semitism report say?

• Labour Party and anti-Semitism: What's it about?

On Thursday the UK's human rights watchdog said Labour broke the law by failing to stamp out anti-Jewish racism when Jeremy Corbyn was leader.

Mr Corbyn has now been suspended by Labour after saying the issue had been "dramatically overstated".

On Friday, Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford refused to comment on the suspension.

Sahar Al-Faifi has won fourth place on the Plaid Cymru South Wales Central list

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price told BBC Wales: "I think this is a watershed moment, and I think no part of society is immune from it.

"The Welsh Labour Party is not immune from it, Plaid Cymru is not immune from it.

"I've met with the Board of Deputies of British Jews and it's absolutely certain that we are seeing a rising tide of anti-Semitism, it's endemic."

He added: "I can't involve myself for the very good reasons set out in the EHRC report in individual disciplinary cases, but it is my responsibility to ensure our culture, our structures, our processes, do actually fulfil a zero-tolerance approach to anti-Semitism and any other form of religious prejudice."

Plaid Cymru election candidates are to undergo training on combating anti-Semitism, he added.

Liz Saville Roberts is the party's Westminster leader and is MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

Helen Mary Jones took the Mid and West Wales seat after Simon Thomas resigned

Plaid Cymru selections

Plaid Cymru announced the results of its regional list selections on Friday.

Helen Mary Jones, who took Plaid's seat for Mid and West Wales following the arrest of Simon Thomas, was selected in the second position on the regional list.

She was beaten by Cefin Campbell, a Carmarthenshire council cabinet member.

Luke Fletcher and Sioned Williams were selected to number one and two positions on the South Wales West list, where Dai Lloyd and Bethan Sayed are standing down.

Rhys ab Owen and Heledd Fychan won first and second place respectively on the South Wales Central selection, followed by Fflur Elin and Sahar Al-Faifi.

Delyth Jewell, sitting Member of the Senedd for South Wales East, and Peredur Owen Griffiths earned first and second position for the region.

In North Wales, Senedd member Llyr Gruffydd has been reselected at the top of the list, with Carrie Harper chosen second.

Meanwhile it was announced that Eluned Morgan, Wellbeing Minister, had beaten Joyce Watson to the number one spot on the Labour Mid and West Wales list.

Both MSs were successful in 2016's selection but Ms Watson was in the first place on the list at the time, with the former MEP in second.