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MPs' adverts broke election rules MPs' adverts broke election rules
(20 minutes later)
The three Plaid Cymru MPs have been found guilty of spending taxpayers' money improperly after taking out adverts which broke election rules. Three Plaid Cymru MPs have been found guilty of spending taxpayers' money improperly after taking out adverts which broke parliamentary rules.
Elfyn Llwyd, Adam Price and Hywel Williams have been told to repay the cost of the "campaigning" adverts.Elfyn Llwyd, Adam Price and Hywel Williams have been told to repay the cost of the "campaigning" adverts.
The parliamentary standards committee said they "broke no clear rule" over the timing of the adverts, before the Welsh assembly election. The MPs accepted the Commons standards committee ruling but said they acted in good faith when placing the adverts before the Welsh assembly election.
But they "must bear responsibility", despite their attempts to check rules. Money for MPs to communicate with constituents had paid for the adverts.
The adverts had been in newspapers circulation beyond the MPs' constituencies and this was a key part of the committee's ruline against them. This broke the rules on election campaigning because the adverts had been in newspapers such as the Daily Post, with circulations beyond the MPs' constituencies.
The powerful standards and privileges committee said this breached the rules as the adverts were effectively campaigning.
The committee said the MPs "broke no clear rule" over the timing of the adverts, published in April, just before the Welsh assembly election in May.
But the committee said MPs should repay the money - about £5,000 each.