Plaid Treasurer resigns as Leadership contest gets more fractious

The Plaid leadership contest  has just got even more fractious  with news that the treasurer for Plaid Cymru has resigned citing threats made before his local constituency party declared support for one of Leanne Wood's leadership rivals.

According to the BBC

Nigel Copner claims his local party in Blaenau Gwent was told to "forget any help going forward" if it declared support for Rhun ap Iorwerth.Mr ap Iorwerth and Adam Price are both candidates for the Plaid leadership.
A spokesman for Leanne Wood said she did not recognise the comments.
In his resignation email, seen by BBC Wales, Mr Copner said: 

"Since Blaenau Gwent nominated Rhun, threats from senior levels in Leanne's camp have said that BG [Blaenau Gwent] can forget any help going forward.
"Similar noises have been made at lower levels. I actually believe these threats from past exposure."

 Responding to the claim Ms Wood's spokesman said: 

We don't recognise the comments contained in the letter, nor have we received any notification of an official complaint containing such allegations. "As stated from the outset, we are focused on conducting a positive leadership campaign and would urge any members to go through the appropriate channels for making a complaint about other members."

 Mr ap Iorwerth said he was 

"disappointed to hear of any such behaviour".

I won't be making any further comment because I'm determined to see a positive campaign and I will concentrating on what I can offer the party and Wales rather than criticising others"

 Mr Price said: 

"I'm very sorry to hear of Nigel's resignation as National Treasurer.

"Retaining his incredible energy and commitment is vitally important to the future success of the party."I'll do anything I can to overcome the issues he's raised in order to achieve our collective aim of winning in Blaenau Gwent and across Wales in 2021."

The BBC continue

The email, sent to Chief Executive Gareth Clubb, Leanne Wood AM, party chair Alun Ffred Jones and Parliamentary leader Liz Saville Roberts makes wider criticisms of Plaid.
Mr Copner talks ofineffective processes within the party" and ends by saying: "The party needs an almighty kick up the backside and a sort out if it is going to have a chance of gaining power."

A Plaid Cymru spokesman said: 

"We do not recognise Nigel Copner's comments about party processes."Progress was made in the local elections and last year's snap Westminster election which took place in very challenging circumstances."Constant preparations are underway for the next Assembly election to ensure that we are in the strongest possible position in terms of finances and organisation."We are grateful to Nigel for his work."

Nigel Copner almost pulled of the in the last election biggest shock in Assembly election almost taking Blaneau Gwent

Welsh Assembly Election 2016: Blaenau Gwent^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Alun Davies	8,442	39.7	−24.3
	Plaid Cymru	Nigel Copner	7,792	36.6	+31.2
	UKIP	Kevin Boucher	3,423	16.1	+16.1
	Conservative	Tracey West	1,334	6.3	+1
	Liberal Democrats	Brendan D'Cruz	300	1.4	−0.4
Majority			650	3.1	-42.0
Turnout				42.1	+3.3
	Labour hold		Swing	−28.0

Whether this is an anomaly  is a big question but it is a marginal  and its hardly surprising the rouge Plaid AM Neil McEvoy tweeted this

Neil McEvoy AM‏ @neiljmcevoy 15h15 hours ago

Neil McEvoy AM Retweeted Aled ap Dafydd

Blaenau Gwent - Nigel Copner resigns after alleged threats Cardiff West - Neil McEvoy expelled after being welcomed to conference Llanelli - mass resignations by long-standing members Conwy - Plaid Council leader resigns from group That's all of Plaid's marginals #leadership

One could almost wonder if Plaid are deliberately shooting themselves in a foot or there is a some in the party who are deliberately throwing a spanner in the works.