Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price to quit after review into ‘toxic’ culture in party
Adam Price, the leader of Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru, has told members he is quitting just days after a review found a culture of harassment, bullying and misogyny in the party.
His decision followed a lengthy meeting of Plaidâs national executive committee to discuss ânext stepsâ after the Prosiect Pawb report made the findings.
Mr Price had led the party since 2018, following time spent as an MP in Westminster before going on to represent Carmarthen East and Dinefwr in the Welsh Assembly.
In a letter Plaid Cymru chair Marc Jones, Mr Price said: âWe have driven the agenda for change in a way that no previous opposition party has dreamt of doing.
âOur core driver â independence for Wales â has broken the banks of mainstream politics and now many, from all parts and all parties, believe like we do that it is a matter of when and not if.
âMy commitment to our vision of a nation transformed remains as strong as ever, and my energy for change undimmed.
âYou have my personal assurance that I will continue to serve my country, my constituents and our party with determination and enthusiasm.â
The Prosiect Pawb report, published last week, said the party had âfailed to implement a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassmentâ and that women had been âespeciallyâ let down.
It said that inherent power imbalances within the party âcoupled with inaction over many years from those with positions of power to challenge bad behaviour, has made a bad situation even worseâ.
Evidence from an anonymous staff survey and elected members âhighlight cases of sexual harassment, bullying and discriminationâ, the report said, claiming: âThese are not isolated cases.â
Mr Price had apologised and said all of its 82 recommendations to âdetoxifyâ the party would be taken on board.
The NEC has approved a motion to allow the partyâs Senedd Group to invite nominations for the position of interim leader at its meeting on Thursday morning.
This will be subject to ratification by the partyâs National Council on Saturday, with plans for a new leader to be in place for the summer.
Mr Jones said: âOn behalf of Plaid Cymru I want to thank Adam for his drive and vision over the past four and a half years. Adamâs personal commitment to making Wales a fairer nation is a lasting legacy of which he and Plaid Cymru can be proud.
âAs we begin the process of electing a new Leader our unwavering focus will be on implementing the recommendations of Project Pawb in order to foster a new culture within the party, making it a safe and inclusive member led movement for all.â
Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies said that the exit of Mr Price had become âinevitableâ.