Complaints against AMs doubled ahead of elections

4 Oct 11
A sudden spike in complaints about members of the National Assembly for Wales occurred in the run-up to last May's elections, according to a report published today by the standards commissioner.

By Mark Smulian | 5 October 2011

A sudden spike in complaints about members of the National Assembly for Wales occurred in the run-up to last May’s elections, according to a report published today by the standards commissioner.

Gerard Elias, who succeeded Richard Penn in the role on December 1 last year, said there had been 12 complaints against members of the 60-strong Assembly between December 2010 and March this year. Of these, four were inadmissible and eight remained under investigation.

In comparison, just five complaints were received in the eight months to December 2010, all of which were held to be inadmissible.

Elias said his role was ‘not simply to seek to safeguard standards, but also to be proactive in promoting and encouraging the highest standards of conduct in the important public office of Assembly Member’.

He set out his intention of running an active standards regime, saying he was ‘anxious to dispel any myth that standards are kept in a box to be brought out on high days and holidays’.

Standards for Assembly Members were ‘not optional or reserved for special occasions’, he warned.

The cost of paying a commissioner, expenses and support was £24,231 in 2010/11.

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