North Wales Assembly Member resigns 17 days after denying ‘grubby’ quit reports – saying we were ‘stuck’ with him

Nathan Gill, elected as a UKIP AM and then declaring himself Independent, has resigned as an Assembly Member.

Mr Gill was elected as a North Wales Regional AM, one of seven UKIP AM’s elected in 2016. Since August 2016 he sat as an independent AM after leaving the group.

Wrexham.com readers will have seen a series of tweets just 17 days ago when we tweeted out this rumour from Lee Waters, a Labour AM, saying Mr Gill might well be on his way.

Interesting rumour about one of our North Wales Regional AM’s… https://t.co/hkWtcSxYZX

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 11, 2017

We then circulated the below highlighting Mr Gill’s tweet which said people were ‘stuck’ with him, calling the rumour tweet ‘pretty grubby’.

Further to the tweet this morning, it appears our North Wales Regional AM is going nowhere! https://t.co/33uXw2uKb5

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) December 11, 2017

Mr Gill himself tweeted about our comment…

Try not to sound too disappointed! @wrexham https://t.co/taqhK8Mytv

— Nathan Gill (@NathanGillMEP) December 11, 2017

Lee Waters AM did ask a further question that was unanswered:

Keen to know if the pledge covers the whole term of the Assembly. My sources adamant that Nathan is discussing standing down with Assembly Commission.

— Lee Waters AM (@Amanwy) December 11, 2017

Confusingly 13 days after the above exchanges he posted a lengthy resignation statement on Facebook, saying “I took this decision a long time ago, based on principle, not peer pressure. I consulted with the next candidate on the list who at the time asked whether I would delay my resignation to give her more time to prepare.”

The next person on the UKIP list is Mandy Jones, who stood in 2016 as a candidate for Clwyd South, and earlier in 2015 for UKIP in the General Election (brief Q&A here).

Mr Gill said: “”Mandy Jones is now eager and ready to take over the role, and I am confident that I am leaving the post to someone who will do an excellent job for the people of North Wales.”

With Brexit around the corner the move will ensure Mr Gill will now be open to receive a reported £40k transitional payment as MEP, something he would not be entitled to if he had also remained an AM. This point is possibly addressed in his statement: “With the country now in the process of leaving the European Union, it is clear that the most pressing issue facing Wales is Brexit. With talks about to move on to the secondary stage, the institutions of the European Union will become increasingly involved in debating and advising on progress.

“I feel it is right that I concentrate on serving my term as an MEP and do my bit in helping to get the best deal for the country. As the only Eurosceptic MP in Wales, I have a duty to give the majority of voters who backed ‘Leave’ in Wales the representation that they deserve and need in Brussels.

“This is not, as some people have baselessly stated, a decision that benefits me financially. Quite the opposite. I am leaving job security for the next three and a half years to commit myself to my political beliefs for one final but crucial year in the European Parliament.”

“Serving in both Parliaments has given me invaluable insight but also revealed how deep the disconnect is between UK politicians sitting in different parliaments. If we share information and work more closely together, we can get the best deal for our country.

“I pledge to maintain an open door to all politicians in Wales, whichever body they are elected to, to consult me and collaborate with me in my role as an MEP as we move to the next critical stage of negotiations.”

Previously fellow North Wales AM, Plaid’s Llyr Gruffydd wrote to the presiding officer to express his “disappointment, frustration and anger at the attendance record of Nathan Gill”, adding “I believe this is a unique betrayal of the voters of the North Wales electoral region. I know we are both aware of the debates around dual mandates, but in this case the member is clearly unable to fulfil his duties.”

A clearly unimpressed Lee Waters AM tweeted this afternoon:

Um, you lied. https://t.co/kgZjMG9ZNM

— Lee Waters AM (@Amanwy) December 27, 2017

Happy to stand corrected, but the record so far is:

1. He pledged to work hard as an AM if elected

He's barely turned up

2. He flatly denied he's was planning to resign

Weeks later he quits

Please forgive me for being cynical

— Lee Waters AM (@Amanwy) December 27, 2017