Llanelli Plaid Cymru Councillor suspended for ‘Wales for Welsh people’ comments

A Llanelli Town Councillor and County Councillor has been suspended for one month following a decision by the Standards Committee of Carmarthenshire County Council. Cllr Terry Davies who represents the Tyisha ward will also be required to attend Code of Conduct training.  The Ombudsman, Michelle Morris, welcomed the recent decision by the Standards Committee .

The Ombudsman’s report concerned a complaint that the Councillor Terry Davies had behaved inappropriately during an interaction with other members. Cllr Davies was alleged to have  referred to two fellow Labour councillors  as ‘outsiders’ and to have sworn  at one Labour councillor at a playground.

The Standards Committee concluded that the Councillor Terry Davies had breached paragraphs 4(a), 4(b) and 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct.

As the purpose of the ethical standards framework in Wales is to promote high standards for councillors and to maintain public confidence in local democracy, the Ombudsman welcomed the decision to suspend the Councillor and thanked the members of the Standards Committee for their careful consideration of the case.

The Local Government Act 2000 provides the Ombudsman with the statutory powers to investigate allegations that members of local authorities in Wales have breached their Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct for elected members is intended to maintain high standards in public life and includes the requirement that elected members should not bring their authority or their office as a councillor into disrepute.