Cardiff’s Plaid Cymru group leader Councillor Neil McEvoy has told Labour councillor Ralph Cook to stop abusing the Ombudsman system by lodging frivolous complaints.
Councillor McEvoy hit out after the Ombudsman’s office confirmed for a second time this year that it would not investigate a complaint by the former city Labour group leader against him.
Councillor Cook had claimed an email exchange between Councillor McEvoy and Conservative Councillor Rod McKerlich failed to show respect and consideration and was, therefore, a breach of the council’s code of conduct.
Councillor McEvoy, Plaid’s Assembly candidate for Cardiff West who represents Fairwater, said: “Councillor Cook’s abuse of the Ombudsman system must stop – he’s wasting people’s time and he’s also wasting public money. It is about time he showed some public responsibility and really the Labour group leader needs to have a word with him because he is embarrassing himself and Labour.
“Earlier in the year he criticised the cost of an investigation and tribunal into a complaint against him but he continues to act hypocritically himself.
“Councillor McKerlich and I have frank exchanges of views from time to time. But I haven’t run to the Ombudsman and neither has he. We both take it on the chin and get on with it. That’s politics. Sometimes it is better to agree to disagree.”
