January 23, 2021 - 1211 views
Local politician Darren Millar MS has announced that he is stepping down from his role as Chief Whip after being seen with other politicians in a Senedd bar just days after an alcohol ban was applied to pubs in Wales.
Mr. Millar, who represents Clwyd West, joins Welsh Conservative leader Paul Davies who is also stepping down from his role.
An investigation by Senedd authorities found that Mr. Millar was amongst a group of other politicians who were present. The incident was reported to the Senedd's standards committee and to Cardiff City Council for a "possible breach" of Covid-19 restrictions.
A statement from Mr. Millar reads:
This has been a difficult week. I want to apologise to my family, colleagues and constituents for any embarrassment that some of the media stories may have caused in recent days.
As has been the case in most weeks since September when the Hybrid Senedd was sitting in Cardiff Bay, on both the 8th and 9th December last year, I used the self-serve catering arrangements that were made available for Senedd members.
On both evenings I served myself a pre-ordered, pre-prepared meal that was reheated in the microwave and ate it while drinking an alcoholic beverage and discussing work matters with colleagues.
Social distancing was maintained through these working dinners and it simply did not occur to me, my colleagues or the catering team that the arrangements may have been inappropriate.
There was a member of catering staff present in the tea room for a short time after my arrival on the 8th December but she did not serve me a drink, nor did I request one. In fact I encouraged the member of staff to go home and close up the counter as it had been a long day for her. No members of staff were present on the 9th December and the counter was closed for the whole evening.
While I am advised that I did not breach coronavirus regulations I am very sorry for my actions, especially given the tough restrictions that people and businesses are enduring.
For this reason, and given that Paul Davies has resigned as Welsh Conservative Group Leader in the Senedd, I have decided to step down from my front bench role in the Welsh Parliament.
I am cooperating fully with ongoing investigations and will continue to do so.
Mr. Millar is a former member of the Senedd's Sustainability Committee, and a former Chair of the Senedd's Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee.
In November 2010, he was elected as Chair of the Senedd's Public Accounts Committee. He has also chaired the Cross Party Group on Faith, and the Cross Party Group on the Armed Forces and Cadets, both of which he is a founder member.
