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| Dafydd Elis-Thomas fired from Plaid Cymru roles | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Plaid Cymru has fired former leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas as transport spokesperson and chair of the assembly's environment committee. | Plaid Cymru has fired former leader Dafydd Elis-Thomas as transport spokesperson and chair of the assembly's environment committee. |
| It follows Lord Elis-Thomas' criticism of leader Leanne Wood's attack on UKIP in her party conference speech. | It follows Lord Elis-Thomas' criticism of leader Leanne Wood's attack on UKIP in her party conference speech. |
| The former assembly presiding officer told BBC Wales it was "facile" of Ms Wood to say a vote for UKIP is a vote against Wales. | The former assembly presiding officer told BBC Wales it was "facile" of Ms Wood to say a vote for UKIP is a vote against Wales. |
| She said that Plaid Cymru members deserve a "united" party. | She said that Plaid Cymru members deserve a "united" party. |
| In a statement, Ms Wood added: "Plaid Cymru sought over the weekend to highlight the dangers posed to Wales by UKIP, because we fundamentally and sincerely believe that their politics and policies are not in the best interest of the people of our communities. | |
| "Dafydd Elis-Thomas decided to publicly oppose this position without raising any concerns in advance. | |
| "The people of Wales, and Plaid Cymru members, expect and deserve a national party that is united in addressing the challenges our country faces; on jobs, the economy and will continue to put Wales first." | |
| The row was sparked on Friday when in a direct message to the party before May's European election, Ms Wood, referring to UKIP said: "Your politics have no place in our country, not now, not ever. | |
| "Your values are not the values of Wales. A vote for UKIP is a vote against Wales - a vote against the Welsh national interest. We cannot and will not let their ugly politics divide us in May." | "Your values are not the values of Wales. A vote for UKIP is a vote against Wales - a vote against the Welsh national interest. We cannot and will not let their ugly politics divide us in May." |
| UKIP criticised Ms Wood's attack as "gutter politics and mudslinging" and her her comments also drew criticism from Lord Elis-Thomas. | UKIP criticised Ms Wood's attack as "gutter politics and mudslinging" and her her comments also drew criticism from Lord Elis-Thomas. |
| He said: "It is facile and assumes a kind of superiority that we decide who is Welsh and who is not Welsh. | He said: "It is facile and assumes a kind of superiority that we decide who is Welsh and who is not Welsh. |
| "A party which gets votes from ordinary citizens in Wales has to be taken seriously. It clearly represents a point of view in Wales." | |
| It is understood that Lord Elis-Thomas met Ms Wood on Wednesday night to discuss his comments, which led to his sacking from his roles. | It is understood that Lord Elis-Thomas met Ms Wood on Wednesday night to discuss his comments, which led to his sacking from his roles. |
| Alun Ffred Jones AM will be Plaid Cymru's nominee for chair of the environment committee and Rhun ap Iorwerth AM the party's transport spokesperson. | Alun Ffred Jones AM will be Plaid Cymru's nominee for chair of the environment committee and Rhun ap Iorwerth AM the party's transport spokesperson. |
| Lord Elis-Thomas was previously threatened with disciplinary action by the party in 2012 after he did not attend an assembly vote on health policy, although on that occasion the party eventually backed down. |