Plaid write letter to FM calling for any evidence against Hannah Blythyn to be published
Rhun ap Iorwerth wants the First Minister to make an urgent statement in plenary
Plaid Cymru Rhun ap Iorwerth urging the First Minister to publish any evidence which supports allegations Hannah Blythyn leaked messages to the media.
The former Minister for Social Partnership made an emotional statement to the Senedd yesterday and again denied she had leaked messages.
Rhun ap Iorwerth has written to Vaughan Gething calling on him to address the issue in plenary this afternoon.
His letter to the FM is in full below.
"I feel compelled to write to you following the personal statement by Hannah Blythyn MS in the Senedd today (9th July).
"You are on the record as stating that it is your belief that the Member in question was responsible for leaking material to the press, a claim which Ms Blythyn denied at the time and which was refuted again today.
"I have previously raised with you my concerns that no proper process was conducted prior to the Minister’s removal from office and having heard the Member’s representations today, I remain unsatisfied that due process was undertaken.
"Your authority as First Minister has been significantly undermined by your acceptance of a £200,000 donation and your subsequent disregard of the result of a Senedd vote of confidence.
"We again have two conflicting accounts pertaining to the allegation of the unauthorised release of information which casts a further cloud on your ability to govern without distraction.
"In the interests of transparency and out of courtesy to the Senedd, I ask you to publish all the evidence which supported your decision to dismiss the Deputy Minister and make an urgent statement in the Senedd tomorrow setting out your response to the concerns raised in today’s personal statement by the Member for Delyn."
Ms Blythyn, who has not appeared in the chamber since she was removed from government, said she had formally raised concerns about the process of her removal.
Ms Blythyn said: "I know that I can look all my colleagues who sit on these benches in the eye and say that I have never leaked or briefed the media about any of you. In fact, I can say that to everyone in the Siambr (Senedd chamber).
"Whilst I will not share the detail, I will share that I have formally raised concerns about the process by which I was removed from government, including not being shown any alleged evidence before being sacked, not being made aware that I was ever under investigation and that at no point was I advised or was it evident that I may have broken the ministerial code."
The former minister added: "It should not be surprising that what happened has been hugely detrimental to me on a personal level, and led to acute anxiety and stress.
"I have never been signed off work before when I have struggled with this in itself, but there was a point when the thought of just putting my camera on to vote and seeing you all literally took my breath away."
She said they often spoke about "kinder politics" in the Senedd, but she argued this would not be possible "without kinder people".
We asked the Welsh Government for a statement.
We were told that given it was a personal statement from the Member - the Welsh Government won’t be responding and that any questions raised by Hannah Blythyn will be dealt with directly.