Neil Hamilton's assembly job appointment blocked by AMs
(about 3 hours later)
A plan by UKIP to nominate Neil Hamilton to represent the party on the body that oversees the Welsh Assembly is facing opposition in the Senedd.
The former group leader of UKIP, Neil Hamilton, has been blocked from taking a top job in the administration of the assembly.
AMs will vote on the former UKIP group leader becoming an assembly commissioner later.
In an unprecedented move AMs voted by a majority to stop the former Tatton Tory MP from becoming a commissioner.
Some think him unsuitable after he abstained on a vote aimed at tackling inappropriate behaviour in the Senedd.
Labour AMs and others believed that Mr Hamilton was unsuitable after he had failed to support a policy aimed at tackling harassment in the legislature.
Mr Hamilton has promised he would perform the job professionally.
A total of 31 AMs voted against the appointment, versus 17 for.
AMs will need to approve the appointment - which replaces Caroline Jones who deposed Mr Hamilton as leader in May - in the Senedd on Wednesday.
Both Labour and Plaid Cymru are having a free vote. A Conservative source said they expect their party group to back the appointment.
It is not clear how many AMs will vote against Mr Hamilton, and whether that opposition will be enough to stop his appointment if Tory and UKIP AMs back him.
But sources believe many in the Labour group will oppose Mr Hamilton, with some abstaining.
Commissioners oversee different aspects of the operation of the assembly - and earn more money than ordinary backbench AMs.
Commissioners oversee different aspects of the operation of the assembly - and earn more money than ordinary backbench AMs.
There are four commissioners, and each party group gets to nominate one. Normally, the selection is a matter for the parties concerned. It is highly unusual for the choice to be vetoed.
There are four commissioners, and each party group gets to nominate one.
But nominations still have to be confirmed in the Senedd.
Normally, the selection is a matter for the parties concerned and does not get to a vote.
If Mr Hamilton had been successful in his bid, he would have gained an extra £13,578 on top of his £66,847 basic backbench AMs' salary, bringing his total pay to £80,425.
He had earned £85,000 a year as group leader until he was deposed in May.
Before he lost his job as leader Mr Hamilton abstained on an interim assembly policy aimed at tackling inappropriate behaviour. Most assembly members had supported it.
Before he lost his job as leader Mr Hamilton abstained on an interim assembly policy aimed at tackling inappropriate behaviour. Most assembly members had supported it.
Mr Hamilton has said the policy could lead to members facing "surveillance" by "outsiders".
Prior to the vote Cynon Valley Labour AM Vikki Howells said: "The dignity and respect policy is fundamental to how the assembly must operate and I cannot countenance supporting someone who has failed to endorse that policy."
Mandy Jones, a UKIP member who sits as an independent AM, told the Senedd on Wednesday she objected to Mr Hamilton's nomination because of his abstention.
Mandy Jones, a UKIP member who sits as an independent AM, told the Senedd on Wednesday that she was also objected to Mr Hamilton's nomination because of his abstention.
She said becoming an AM was "not a part time job" and the code of conduct does "not get shrugged off like a wet coat when they become too uncomfortable".
She said becoming an AM was "not a part time job" and the code of conduct does "not get shrugged off like a wet coat when they become too uncomfortable".
"I do not see how his position is compatible with the role of an assembly commissioner," she said.
"I do not see how his position is compatible with the role of an assembly commissioner," she said.
Responding, Mr Hamilton told AMs: "If the assembly approves this appointment this afternoon I will perform the obligations of commissioner to the best of my ability with the kind of professionalism and honesty and integrity I think I have displayed in the two years I have been here."
Mr Hamilton had promised AMs that he would have served as a commissioner "with the kind of professionalism and honesty and integrity I think I have displayed in the two years I have been here".
He said he would uphold the policy on tackling inappropriate behaviour.
The Tories had been expected to back the nominations. One source in the party said thought it was "irregular to try and tell a group who they can and can't put forward".
Prior to the debate and confirming that she would vote against the nomination Cynon Valley Labour AM Vikki Howells said: "The dignity and respect policy is fundamental to how the assembly must operate and I cannot countenance supporting someone who has failed to endorse that policy."
Another source said there was a "strong feeling" within the Labour group that Mr Hamilton's abstention on the policy made him unsuitable given he would be involved in upholding it.
At least one Plaid AM expected to vote against the appointment but BBC Wales has heard that another AM in the party feels uncomfortable about breaking the precedent on commission appointments.
A source said there had been similar concerns within Labour, prior to the offering of a free vote.
One Welsh Conservative said they thought it was "irregular to try and tell a group who they can and can't put forward".
Speaking in May, and before the nomination was tabled, Caroline Jones told BBC Wales that David Rowlands originally asked to do the job, but "gave way" to Mr Hamilton because he "so enjoyed" his role as chairman of the petitions committee.
If Mr Hamilton is successful in his bid to be an assembly commissioner he will gain an extra £13,578 on top of his £66,847 basic backbench AMs' salary, bringing his total pay to £80,425.
He had earned £85,000 a year as leader.
One of the commissioners is Joyce Watson - a Labour AM who has been the target of criticism by Mr Hamilton over her description of UKIP AMs as "rabid dogs" in a debate a year ago.
