Labour's deal with Plaid Cymru must end, ex-minister says

A former Labour cabinet minister has called for Plaid Cymru's co-operation deal with the Welsh government to end.

It follows a damning report into Plaid that said "too many instances of bad behaviour" were tolerated in the party.

Labour's Ken Skates said he does not want to deal "with bullies, misogynists or anyone who discriminates against others".

The Welsh government and Plaid declined to comment on Mr Skates' comments.

The Welsh government also declined to comment on the report.

A Labour source said the party's Senedd group was "horrified" by the Plaid findings and called for Welsh ministers to respond "robustly".

Meanwhile, a former chief executive of Plaid Cymru, Gareth Clubb, says he was one of the "many staff subject to bullying" in the party.

The report, written by former assembly member Nerys Evans, called for the party to "detoxify a culture of harassment, bullying and misogyny".

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price apologised to all those who experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour and said Plaid was a product of the society it was trying to change.

On Wednesday he refused to resign, saying to quit would be an abdication of responsibility.

It emerged on Thursday that some Labour MSs wanted the party to criticise Adam Price, and wanted a meeting to discuss the Plaid report.

BBC Wales was told that Labour MSs have been promised a discussion on the subject next week.

One politician, speaking privately, agreed with Mr Skates, highlighting that the agreement is not with the Senedd group itself, but with ministers.

"The Labour group as a whole are horrified with the report," a party source said.

The source said the Welsh government "needs to respond robustly and in a thoughtful way".

But another Labour source said it was a "matter for Plaid Cymru": "In Labour many of us remember the toxic culture of the Corbyn years and how we needed to change fundamentally to root out antisemitism and bullying and abuse."

"The challenge now is for Plaid Cymru to recognise that they must change and anything else distracts from their responsibilities."

Plaid Cymru is in a co-operation deal with the Welsh government, which sees Labour ministers work with the party on a range of policies including childcare and free school meals.

The three-year deal, struck in 2021, means Plaid is not in government and is still technically an opposition party.

But the party allows Labour's spending plans to pass the Senedd as part of the agreement.

Relations between the government and Plaid have been strained recently, when Plaid accused the First Minister Mark Drakeford of being humiliated over comments about Betsi Cadwaladr health board.

Ken Skates, MS for Clwyd South, told BBC Wales: "Behaviour matters, how you treat people matters, the way you lead an organisation matters.

"Bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable, full stop.

"The cooperation agreement should end on the basis of upholding Welsh Labour's principles, ethics and morals.

"I won't do a deal with bullies, misogynists or anyone who discriminates against others."

Mr Skates was economy minister until shortly after the 2021 election.

A former chief executive of Plaid Cymru, Gareth Clubb, told social media network LinkedIn on Thursday that there was "more than one" bully in Plaid.

Mr Clubb was in the job from 2016 to 2021.

He said: "I was one of the many staff subject to bullying at Plaid Cymru - in my case not principally from elected members.

"Just one bully in an organisation can have a massive corrosive effect on how that organisation functions.

"So my empathy and sympathy goes out to everyone who has ever suffered, or continues to suffer, from the harm caused by bullying."

A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "Plaid Cymru reiterates its apology to all those who have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behaviour within the party.

"Such behaviour is wholly unacceptable and at odds with the safe, respectful, and inclusive organisation which Plaid Cymru strives to become."