Neil McEvoy protests against virtual Senedd meetings by sitting in empty chamber

Neil McEvoy has staged a protest against virtual meetings of the Senedd by sitting in an empty chamber during plenary.

The Independent MS, who represents South Wales Central, said it was in response to Senedd meetings still taking place virtually "despite people all over Wales are going back to work."

He added: "Holyrood, Stormont and Westminster are all open, but the Senedd isn’t. This sends out a bad message to the people of Wales. It’s saying that you must go back to your workplace but us politicians who make these rules aren’t quite ready yet. Do as we say, not as we do."

Members of Senedd began holding their weekly plenary meetings over Zoom during the height of the coronavirus crisis, becoming the first of the UK's parliaments to do so.

Other parliaments soon adopted similar measures, including the House of Commons which introduced so-called “hybrid proceedings”, giving MPs the chance to participate either in person or virtually and to vote online.

But earlier this month, MPs at Westminster voted to scrap digital voting and return to voting in person, after Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg claimed it diminished the ability for MPs to "scrutinise" legislations.

And now Mr McEvoy, a former Plaid Cymru politician who now leads the Welsh National Party, wants Members of Senedd to follow suit.

He added: "Our parliament cannot be shut down when we are expecting non-essential retail and schools to return shortly. How can politicians send children back to the front line, but leave politicians safely locked away at home?"

It's prompted a mixed reaction from other Members of Senedd.

"If I wasn’t in north Wales I would join him", said Mandy Jones, Brexit Party MS for north Wales.

But others were much less impressed.

Baroness Wilcox of Newport, Labour Member of the House of Lords, asked of Mr McEvoy's protest: "Is this putting Senedd staff at any risk?"

While Hefin David, Labour MS for Caerphilly, said on Twitter: "I want to move to hybrid session as soon as possible. But this categorically is not the way to make the case. In fact, it may have the opposite effect. You are completely irresponsible."