Roger Williams demands apology from Plaid candidate (Vale of Glamorgan Liberal Democrats)

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Vale of Glamorgan Liberal Democrats <valelibdems@hotmail.com>

Roger Williams demands apology from Plaid candidate

December 9, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

Speaking after comments critical of Ceredigion MP Mark Williams's role in post office closures were made on a Plaid Westminster candidate's blog, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Roger Williams MP has demanded an apology.

Penri James, who will stand for Plaid Cymru in Ceredigion at the next Westminster election, accused Mr Williams of being "reactive" and insinuated that he had made matters worse with his campaign against post office closures, further adding: "I just hope he didn't make matters worse with the Tax Office as well." Commenting Roger Williams said: "These comments are outrageous, untrue and are a slur that subpostmasters and mistresses and HMRC Office employees will be utterly bemused by. "I have seen Mark's hard work on these issues first hand, both here and in Ceredigion. He has asked questions, met ministers and officials, and organised meetings both public and private in his constituency. To suggest he has simply been "reactive" is fantasy. If anything it's Mr James's list of questions that is reactive - at least Mark responded to the consultation rather than sniping from the sidelines when everything's done and dusted. "No-one could have done more than Mark, and many of us from all parties were disappointed by the outcome on HMRC offices. "I know that Mark values the contribution that Elin Jones has made on Post Office closures, and I'm sure he will be shocked by Mr James's partisan comments on what was widely regarded as a hard-fought, effective cross-party campaign. "The fact that the Government decided to save the tax office in Merthyr Tydfil, a Labour-held seat, instead of the office in Aberystwyth might give him a few clues as to who is really to blame, but then seeing as his party is in coalition with Labour in the Assembly, he probably doesn't feel he can speak out against that. "I have written to Mr James asking him to reflect upon his comments and to offer a full public apology. There can be no place for this sort of negative campaigning."