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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Neil Hamilton's assembly job appointment blocked by AMs | Neil Hamilton's assembly job appointment blocked by AMs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The former group leader of UKIP, Neil Hamilton, has been blocked from taking a top job in the administration of the assembly. | The former group leader of UKIP, Neil Hamilton, has been blocked from taking a top job in the administration of the assembly. |
| In an unprecedented move AMs voted by a majority to stop the former Tatton Tory MP from becoming a commissioner. | In an unprecedented move AMs voted by a majority to stop the former Tatton Tory MP from becoming a commissioner. |
| 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. | 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. |
| A total of 31 AMs voted against the appointment, versus 17 for. | A total of 31 AMs voted against the appointment, versus 17 for. |
| There were three abstentions. Labour and Plaid Cymru AMs had a free vote but mostly voted against Mr Hamilton - while UKIP and Tory members supported him. | |
| 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. | There are four commissioners, and each party group gets to nominate one. |
| Normally, the selection is a matter for the parties concerned and passes without objections from other parties. | |
| 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. | 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 by UKIP group leader Caroline Jones 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. |
| 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." | 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 that she was also 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. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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". | 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". |