EX-PLAID AM'S DAUGHTER NOW ON HIS STAFF

Daughter of Assembly Member Mohammed Ashgar, who defected from Plaid Cymru to the Conservatives before Christmas last year, because he wasn't allowed to employ his daughter, has her now officially on his staff.

Natasha Ashgar's name has appeared on the official list of AM support staff.

Ashgar the only ethnic minority AM, said that he left Plaid, because of their refusal to employ her daughter was 'the last straw'. Even

after her selection by an independent panel and offering to work for free, Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones refused to her as his assistant.

Plaid made this decision after the last AMs’ expenses, and put forth that no new family members should be taken on it's AM members.

Mr Asghar told the Western Mail: “Natasha is working for me as a volunteer – she is not being paid. She’s not giving up her bank job in London, and will be working for me on her days off, during holidays and at weekends.”

NEWPORT BASED AM HITS BACK AT CRITICS

Mohammad Asghar, the Assembly member for South East Wales who sensationally quit Plaid for the conservatives last week has told Newport City Radio that Plaid's refusal to let him employ his daughter was the last straw.

Mr Ashgar says there were numerous occasions where he felt Plaid's actions as a party were significantly different to his own views.

Speaking on SPIN last night, the only ethnic minority AM in the assembly says it was 'the last straw' when, after selection by an independent panel and offering to work for free, Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones refused to let him employ his daughter as his assistant.

When asked about whether he would be looking to employ his daughter in the future under the conservative's, Mr Asghar said "If she's good enough... she can contribute to the community and the party at the same time".

TORIES SELECT CANDIDATE FOR NEWPORT EAST

Dawn Parry has been selected by the Conservatives to fight Newport East at next year's general election.

She won a four-cornered final (against three men) to win the nomination for the seat held at the last election for Labour by Jessica Morden with a majority of 6,838 over the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives (who were separated by less than 100 votes in second and third place).

She said "“It is an honour to have been selected to be the PPC for Newport East at the next General Election. I am very proud indeed to represent this constituency for the Conservatives. I grew up in South Wales and we have been so badly neglected here by Labour. The electorate are ready for change. I will work very hard to ensure they entrust me with their vote for that change so badly needed here."

2005 General Election result - Jessica Morden (Labour) 14,389, Ed Townsend (Lib Dem) 7,551, Matthew Collings (Conservative) 7,459, Mohammad Ashgar (Plaid) 1,221, Roger Thomas (UKIP) 945, Liz Screen (Socialist Labour) 260