Tory Leader Found in Breach of Senedd Rules Over Misleading Tweet About 20mph Speed Limit
The leader of the Welsh Conservative opposition, Andrew RT Davies, has been found to have broken Senedd rules by incorrectly characterising the 20mph speed limit as a “blanket” policy. A committee concluded that Mr. Davies had brought the Senedd into disrepute after referring to the default speed limit as a blanket policy in a social media post. This tweet, which was posted shortly after it had been ruled that the term was imprecise and inaccurate, stated: “Another bus route cut thanks to Labour and Plaid’s blanket 20mph speed limits.”
An investigation by Douglas Bain, the Senedd’s standards commissioner, determined that Mr. Davies had breached the code of conduct by persisting in using the term. While the Conservative leader was cleared of dishonesty, Mr. Bain noted that untruthfulness requires an element of deceit, fraud, or moral turpitude. As a result, Mr. Davies will face a formal censure in the Senedd on November 6, which serves as a reprimand.
Mr. Davies acknowledged that referring to the default speed limit as a blanket policy was imprecise and inaccurate, but argued that he was entitled to use the phrase under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. However, Mr. Bain ruled that the tweet was false and not protected by the enhanced freedom of expression afforded to politicians.
In a separate complaint, submitted by Anthony Jones, Mr. Davies was also investigated for misleading social media posts. The complaint centred around a tweet stating that “Vaughan Gething’s Labour government is embracing the same extreme ideology as its predecessor,” accompanied by an image from a political blog. The complainant highlighted that the tweet was misleading and dangerous, as the Welsh Government confirmed that no such press release had been issued.
Mr. Davies defended his use of the term “birthing people” in the tweet, citing his right to freedom of expression. However, Mr. Bain found that Mr. Davies had failed to verify the accuracy of the text he had copied into his tweet, thereby bringing the Senedd into disrepute once again.
The commissioner emphasised that Senedd members are expected to fact-check and verify their statements, and noted that it is the responsibility of each member to ensure the accuracy of information shared. While Mr. Davies argued that press releases and ministerial statements were synonymous, Mr. Bain disagreed, highlighting the distinction between the two.
Overall, Mr. Davies’ actions have raised concerns about integrity and accountability within the Welsh political landscape. It remains to be seen how this censure will impact his role as leader of the opposition and the public’s perception of his conduct.