ALL EMPLOYEES have the right to feel safe at work and there should be zero tolerance of bullying.

As such I took the unusual step of writing an open letter to Leanne Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru, on March 4, calling for her to suspend her Plaid colleague Neil McEvoy. I did this as I was deeply shocked to see Neil McEvoy AM welcomed and given a platform to speak at the Plaid Cymru conference in Newport a mere day after being suspended as a county councillor for bullying a female council employee.

To date I have not had the courtesy of a reply from Leanne Wood but three days after my letter went public the Plaid Cymru Assembly group did indeed suspend Neil McEvoy.

It was a remarkable abdication of leadership from Leanne Wood. She was unable to answer a straight question about whether she thought it was correct Neil McEvoy was allowed to address Plaid’s conference and she was unwilling to answer why Plaid would not suspend him until their due process was complete.

These incidents took place against the backdrop of the week in which we marked International Women’s Day. I was proud to support Welsh Labour Assembly Members’ #BackThePlaque campaign to celebrate remarkable Welsh women. I was able to highlight the role of Augusta Hall who did so much to create a traditional Welsh costume as well as building the grade two listed Welsh church in Abercarn.

In the Senedd this week we debated the need for the Welsh Government to develop a strategy for the Foundation Economy. The Foundation Economy is a grand name for those business activities that we use every day and see all around us. Business like retail, care and food industries may not have the glamour of other aspects of the economy but it is high time that we give them the importance that they are due.

In the debate I highlighted that more people should be paid the living wage.

I would like to thank the chairman of Cross Keys rugby club Colin Vernall and all at the club for a wonderful occasion as they beat Pontypool at a packed Pandy Park to reach the semi-final of the Welsh Rugby Union National Cup. I was greatly impressed with the community spirit, atmosphere and the quality of the rugby.

It was great that the occasion was broadcast live on S4C. I’ll be in Llandudno for the Welsh Labour Conference when the semi-final takes place but I’ll be willing on Cross Keys to make the National Cup Final in May at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.