The next item is a report by the Standards of Conduct Committee, and that report is report 03-19. I call on the Chair of the committee to move the motion. Jayne Bryant. 

Motion NDM7149 Jayne Bryant

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Considers the Report of the Standards of Conduct Committee—Report 03-19 laid before the Assembly on 19 September 2019 in accordance with Standing Order 22.9

2. Endorses the recommendation in the report. 

Motion moved.

Diolch, Llywydd. As Chair of the Standards of Conduct Committee, I formally move the motion. The committee considered the report from the commissioner for standards in relation to a complaint made against Hefin David AM, regarding use of unparliamentary language. 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 to this case. The facts relating to the complaint, and the committee's reasons for its recommendation, are set out in full in the committee's report. The motion tabled invites the Assembly to endorse this committee's recommendation. 

I feel like I've been existing in a parallel universe for the past 15 minutes, Llywydd. What I would say—. What I'm about to say has no bearing on the previous debate, in my mind. I'm reflecting upon my experience and what I would like to say with regard to my views and this particular standards commissioner's report. It is my view—and I know, from what's just been said, that it's not the view of some people in the Chamber—that, when you are found in breach of the rules, it is right to apologise for breaching those rules. And I endorse therefore what, particularly, Andrew R.T. Davies said when he was speaking in his position as a member of the standards committee. The decision of the standards committee should be respected, and, if you don't respect it, it can have the effect, and will have the effect, of undermining the standards process in this place, and one which was set up by this Assembly in order to manage and measure standards that we would expect to meet. [Interruption.] No, I'd rather not give way, thank you; I'd rather complete what I'd like to say.

Before I get to my response, I'd like to reflect upon what it is like to be on social media as a politician. And I can only speak from the point of view of being a male on social media. I expressed a view, and what has caused the abuse I received—I expressed a view about independence for Wales. And it wasn't a particularly massively anti-view, it was a skeptical view, but a view that was open to future debate in this Chamber and other places. I received a torrent of abuse, from people of both genders, some anonymous, some not, and some of it was horrific—some of it was horrific. I received a direct message—and I gave my word to Adam Price I wouldn't name the person, but I received a direct message from a young Plaid member that drew attention to my appearance and was in the strongest possible language that you could imagine. And it was dealt with properly and appropriately by Adam Price, quickly, and I received a direct apology the next day. But it was an awful thing to receive. I've also had my mental health questioned, and my appearance questioned, on Twitter, and my friends at home have remarked upon the abuse that I've received.

It's an incredibly difficult thing to do, when you're receiving a torrent of abuse simply for expressing a view—and seeing a constituent being abused for expressing a view—not to respond. I responded in the heat of the moment. I responded in the language that you've seen. I even managed to try out my Welsh in my response. And I was then reported for doing so. What I do regret is responding in that moment. And that is why, Llywydd, I've issued that apology to you for unparliamentary language. That apology is issued only to you and only for that breach of the rules, and only because I believe it is appropriate to do so with respect to the standards committee.

The committee Chair to reply. Jayne Bryant.

Diolch, Llywydd. I'd just like to thank the Member for his contribution and for the words that he's said today and his apology to you, Llywydd. He's accepted the standards committee's report. So, thank you, Llywydd.

The proposal is to agree the motion. Does any Member object? The motion is therefore agreed, in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Motion agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.