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Elfyn Llwyd MP criticises quit calls over Plaid leader Dafydd Iwan backs Plaid Cymru leader over absence
(about 4 hours later)
A senior Plaid Cymru MP has criticised party members who want Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down immediately as party leader. A former Plaid Cymru president says leader Ieuan Wyn Jones's absence from the Welsh Government's opening ceremony has been "blown out of all proportion".
But Elfyn Llwyd said "to start rounding on him in this way is unseemly". Dafydd Iwan was speaking as Mr Jones returns to work facing criticism for missing the official opening by the Queen last week.
He told BBC Wales Politics Show "the vultures... are people who were his greatest cheerleaders when he took the party into government." He was on holiday in France, prompting some calls for him to step down now.
Mr Jones faced criticisim by other parties for being on holiday when the assembly was officially opened. Mr Jones had already said he will stand down in the first half of the assembly's five-year term.
Mr Iwan said Mr Jones now needed to clarify a leadership election timetable since announcing he was step down, but the recent issue should not force the party to be "stampeded into an early election".
"His absence from the opening ceremony has been blown out of all proportion," said Mr Iwan.
"Ieuan is not one to shirk his responsibilities and he will be back this week ready for the work proper."
He claimed the leader "needed a break" after May's election campaign in which Plaid performed poorly, winning 11 of the 60 seats.
"If there is further explanations to be made he will do them himself," he said.
'Vultures''Vultures'
Mr Jones has already indicated he planned to stand down in the first half of the assembly's five-year term after Plaid's poor election results. "But I think now he needs to clarify the timetable for the new leadership election but I don't think we should be stampeded into an early election," he told BBC Radio Wales.
But his absence from the assembly's official opening by The Queen last week, and First Minister's questions the following day, proved a target for opponents. On Sunday, Plaid parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd criticised party members who want Mr Jones to stand down immediately.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said "as far as Plaid Cymru is concerned, attendance in this chamber appears to be optional". He told BBC Wales' Politics Show that "the vultures... are people who were his greatest cheerleaders when he took the party into government."
The Conservatives said the Plaid Cymru leader not being present for the Queen's visit was "disrespectful". Although his personal view is that Mr Jones should be allowed to stand down in his own time, Mr Llwyd, who leads the party group at Westminster, said he felt he will have gone long before the two-year deadline.
Although his personal view is that Mr Jones should be allowed to stand down in his own time, Mr Llwyd, who leads the party group at Westminster, said he felt he will have gone long before the two year deadline. Last month, Mr Jones said it had always been his intention to leave the role at some point before the next assembly election in 2016.
In his interview with BBC's north Wales political correspondent John Stevenson, Dwyfor Meirionydd MP Mr Llwyd said: "I have no truck with these vultures as you describe them.
"They're not doing anybody any good; they're not doing the party any good and they're not doing themselves any good."
Last month, Mr Jones announced he would stand down as Plaid Cymru leader in the first half of the assembly's five-year term.
He said it had always been his intention to leave the role at some point before the next assembly election in 2016.