Councillor's expulsion exposes disquiet over 'toxic culture' in Cardiff's Labour group

Many in Cardiff's Labour group feel stronger leadership was needed amid the long suspension and ultimate expulsion of a councillor found to have behaved inappropriately towards a 17-year-old girl. Political editor Ruth Mosalski reports...

- Ruth Mosalski

THE expulsion of a senior Labour councillor after a complaint against him of sexual harassment of a teenager was upheld has exposed claims of a “toxic” culture within the ruling group at Wales' largest council.

It has also raised questions about the lack of action from one of the party's Senedd members.

Keith Jones, an experienced councillor and senior adviser to a serving Senedd member, is a former teacher who chaired the Cardiff Labour group and was head of the city's planning committee.

In his time in the public eye, he has been disbarred as a teacher, and suspended from Labour after inappropriate messages sent to female colleagues.

He was thrown out of the party in May at the conclusion of a three-year investigation after an allegation was made of inappropriate behaviour towards a teenage girl.

While he was suspended for the investigation into the incident, council colleagues organised a “morale-boosting curry” for him.

It has been claimed that allies of Councillor Jones were able to exert influence within the council - including over leader Huw Thomas, who is considered a rising star among Labour ranks and even spoken of as a possible future First Minister in some quarters.

Questions about Councillor Thomas’ leadership were raised by several people we spoke to.

On the night his colleagues were told the independent panel had found the sexual harassment proved, senior Cardiff councillor Russell Goodway told a meeting of their colleagues that Cllr Jones had been “hung out to dry”.

‘This is the story of the infighting at the top of Wales’ largest local authority - an organisation with an annual budget of more than £800m and responsibility for the nation's capital city - and how a lengthy disciplinary process raised serious questions not just for individuals but the party itself.