How Plaid Cymru Works - 21

This is the twenty-first tranche of emails from the correspondence between various people in Plaid Cymru and myself, following a complaint about what I had written on the subject of the Ynys Môn by-election last year. For easy reference, I've put together the all the previous correspondence on this page, which I will keep updating as further emails are published.

From: Eli Jones
Sent: Tuesday, 13 May 2014, 1:37pm
To: Undisclosed recipients
Subject: Complaint made in August 2014 by the Director of Communications

To: Michael Haggett and the Director of Communications
Copy to: Hearing Panel members and the Investigation Officer

Without prejudice

Dear Mr Haggett and Ms Jones

Further to my e-mail to you both on 7 April, 2014, I am now writing to you, as a courtesy update to inform you that the Panel has received the Investigating Officer’s Report, and that I can confirm that we will be meeting on 19th May, 2014, as had been provisionally arranged previously, to determine, with the benefit of that Report, whether there is a case to answer, and, the Panel’s further action (if any), in the light of that decision.

It is still intended that all parties will be advised of the Hearing Panel's resolution within one week of that meeting.

It may be that the Panel finds no case to answer, but, equally, the Panel may decide differently, in which case one option before the Panel would be to convene a formal hearing.

Should the Panel decide that a formal hearing would be appropriate, the likelihood is that this would be arranged to take place in Cardiff about a fortnight or so later.

Sincerely

Eli Jones

From: Eli Jones
Sent: Friday, 23 May 2014, 12:55pm
To: Undisclosed recipients
Subject: Outcome of the Hearing Panel held on 19 May 2014

To: Michael Haggett and the Director of Communications
Copy to: Hearing Panel members and the Investigation Officer

Without prejudice

Dear Mr Haggett and Ms Jones

As previously indicated, I am now writing to you to inform you of the outcome of the meeting of the Hearing Panel, held on 19 May 2014, to consider the Investigating Officer’s Report concerning the complaint originally brought by the Director of Communications, against Mr Haggett in August 2013.

The Panel decided unanimously that there was a case to answer concerning the allegation that Mr Haggett engaged in

Actions or statements damaging or potentially damaging to the public reputation of the party,

contrary to Standing Order 3.1.iii.

Consequently, a formal hearing, to consider the evidence has been arranged for

6.30 pm on Tuesday 17th June, 2014
at Ty Gwynfor, Marine Chambers, Anson Court, Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff, CF10 4AL.

You are invited to present your case before the Hearing Panel at that time.

Should you wish to submit a written statement in advance of, or instead of, attending the hearing in person, please ensure that I have received it, (on behalf of the Panel), by 10th June 2014, at the latest. Submissions received after that date cannot be considered.

Written statements can be received either by e-mail to my e-address, or, in hard copy by recorded delivery to Plaid's HQ at Ty Gwynfor, (as above), clearly marked CONFIDENTIAL - F.A.O. ELI JONES.

Additionally, also by 10th June 2014, please –

1) Acknowledge receipt of this communication, and,
2) Indicate whether you intend to attend the hearing,

Meanwhile, as before, I would wish to remind all parties of the continuing applicability of the provision of paragraph 9.1 of the Standing Orders for Membership, Discipline and Standards

9.1 Public Statements

No public statement regarding the circumstances or persons involved in a disciplinary Procedure shall be made by any member other than the Chair of the Party until after the conclusion of any appeal or until after the last day for the making of an appeal in the event of no appeal being made.

Yours sincerely

Eli Jones
Chair - Hearing Panel

From: Michael Haggett
Sent: Monday, 2 June 2014, 11:35pm
To: Nerys Evans
Subject: Re: Complaints by Elin Jones and Michael Haggett

Dear Nerys

I have received an email from Eli Jones dated 23 May. I was asked to confirm that I have received it, and am happy to do this.

Unfortunately I am not yet in a position to confirm whether I will attend the meeting or not. It appears that the new Hearing Panel intends to press ahead regardless of our constitution and standing orders, and in doing this they are making exactly the same mistakes as the previous Hearing Panel made. The previous Hearing Panel expected me to turn up without having seen a copy of the investigation report, without knowing exactly what the case against me is supposed to be, and without any prior disclosure of the evidence that will be presented.

As in any quasi-judicial proceedings, the onus is on the prosecution to set out their case, disclose the evidence they will provide to support it, and make themselves available for cross-examination about it. All these things must happen first, and only then will I be in a position to make any decision about how to conduct a defence.

I only received a copy of the first investigation report after Leanne asked Dafydd, as Chair of the party, to intervene. I am therefore addressing this to you as Deputy Chair (Dafydd having been disqualified by reason of his past involvement) to give you the opportunity of acting now, so as to prevent yet another appeal on the grounds of flawed procedure.

Best regards

Michael