Clearly it is not possible to comment on the resignation of Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas after being arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images as it is now a Police matter and treated as sub judice.
Since there will be no byelection as this is a Regional seat speculation has already started on who in Plaid will take the now vacant position?
The next on the Regional list is Helen Mary Jones is a former AM and chair of Plaid Cymru. who would seem to be the natural choice
She resigned in 2013 from the chair role she had held since 2011. In her statement at the time, she said she wanted to concentrate on her “career and family for a while”
She was an AM from 1999 to 2011 when she lost Llanelli to Labour by 80 votes.She was then selected to stand again for Llanelli for the 2016 election - again losing to Labour and their candidate Lee Waters.She was second on the regional list in 2016
She is currently assistant director of the Morgan Academy at Swansea University. The Morgan Academy, named after Rhodri Morgan, is a research-based think tank.In recent months, Ms Jones has spoken publicly in support of A Woman’s Place groupI which is concerned about legal changes to make it easier for trans people to have their gender identity legally recognised.
Ms Jones was due to be a speaker at an event by A Woman’s Place in Cardiff which was cancelled by the hotel due to host it.
Groups including Pride Cymru have criticised the stance of the Woman’s Place group and there have been comments about Ms Jones’ possible return to the Assembly.
This led to a Tweet from Cadan ap Thonas a member of the Welsh Liberal Democrat National Executive Committee.
Views so extreme that a youth organisation for whom she used to be Chief Executive felt the need to publicly distance themselves from her: youthcymru.org.uk/youth-cymrus-p…
If Plaid really are as committed to trans equality as they say, will they let Helen Mary Jones take the vacant seat?
Indeed such was the speed of Mr ap thomas response I first was made aware of this story from his tweet.
Writing for the Western Mail magazine in April she said she was “concerned” by proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act.
I may be wrong in this but Ms Jones, seems to be concerned that Men could claim to identify as women in order to enter Women only places, It does not seem to me to be an attack on the Trans Gender community in general.
Next on the list is If Ms Jones decides not to stand, Plaid Cymru will approach the third on the list, is Vicky Moller.
She was third place on the regional list at the time of the last election. Her profile on the Plaid Cymru website says she was one of the founders of the West Wales Eco Centre in 1980.
A great-grandmother she has lived on a mountain farm in north Wales and smallholding in west Wales.
She became involved in politics in 1993 during a planning battle on behalf of a young family.
She has been a member of the Plaid National Executive.
A great-grandmother she has lived on a mountain farm in north Wales and smallholding in west Wales.
She became involved in politics in 1993 during a planning battle on behalf of a young family.
She has been a member of the Plaid National Executive.
I personally would look foward to Ms Moller joining the assembly and bringing a new approach.
Of course what would be preferable as somebody suggested Plaid to hold a primary to select Mr Thomas;s replacement.
Whatever happens Plaid will have a battle to shake off the events yesterday.
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