We now move to item 7, which is the debate on the Standards of Conduct Committee’s ‘Report 01-17 to the Assembly under Standing Order 22.9’. And I call on the Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee to move the motion—Jayne Bryant.

Motion NDM6508 Jayne Bryant

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

a) considers the report of the Standards of Conduct Committee—Report 01-17—laid before the Assembly on 3 August 2017 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9; and

b) endorses the recommendations in the report.

Motion moved.

Thank you, Deputy Llywydd. As Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee, I formally move the motion.

At the committee’s meeting on 11 July 2017, we considered the report from National Assembly for Wales Commissioner for Standards in relation to a complaint made against Neil McEvoy AM, regarding his failure to comply with the rules and guidance of the use of Assembly resources, which is a breach of the code of conduct. The Standards of Conduct Committee gave the commissioner’s report careful consideration, and our report sets out the committee’s judgment as to the sanction that is appropriate in this case. The motion tabled invites the Assembly to endorse the committee’s recommendation.

Thank you. Neil McEvoy.

Diolch. I’m here today to apologise for using the media briefing room in a way that was inconsistent with the Standing Orders of this Assembly and the code of conduct for Assembly Members. I fully accept the findings of the committee’s report, because, when I’ve done something wrong, I admit to it.

I didn’t set out to break the code of conduct. The truth is, I didn’t know the code of conduct well enough at the time, and that’s nobody else’s fault but my own, and I accept that. However, the reason why I can be found to have broken the code of conduct is because there is a code of conduct that does apply to me. But there’s one person in the Chamber who the code of conduct does not apply to, and that person is the First Minister.

The First Minister’s answers to questions have been inconsistent on matters of fact, but the Presiding Officer has no power to investigate his behaviour. Even the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister has no power to investigate on this, and I think it’s undemocratic and wrong. That’s why, yesterday, I wrote—

Sorry, Neil. Could I just ask you to think about what you’re saying in relation to the standards report, please?

I am. Okay.

And don’t stray away from its content.

The points that I’m making—and I’ll probably draw things to a close a little bit quicker than I want to. Because I fully accept the censure, if that’s the wish of the Chamber, and I fully apologise once again. But I believe the First Minister of Wales should refer himself, through the ministerial code of conduct—

No, you’re straying outside of the report. So, just think, and if you want to, that’s fine.

Okay. I’ll close by saying—and I wrote to the First Minister on this yesterday—no Member of this Chamber should be more equal than another. A code of conduct should apply to every single one of us. I did wrong, I made a mistake, I hold my hand up. Every AM should do the same. Thank you.

Do you wish to reply?

I’d just like to say, we’ve heard the Member’s apology, and to thank him for that—that he said that today. And I’d ask the Assembly to endorse the recommendation of the committee.

Thank you. The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? No. Therefore, the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.