A Conservative Assembly Member has been branded hypocritical by political rival Lindsay Whittle after he backed a campaign to keep the Newport Passport Office open.
South Wales East AM Mohammad Asghar, who famously defected from Plaid to the Tories last year, has backed the South Wales Argus campaign to save the passport office from full closure.
On Tuesday the BBC reported that 45 jobs out of 300 had been saved at the site after negotiations between Tory Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan MP, the Home Office and the Passport Service.
Mr Asghar has also posted his supported for the campaign on Facebook .
Lindsey Whittle, Plaid’s regional candidate for South Wales East and leader of Caerphilly Council, said: “To state that you are campaigning against the closure and against the loss of so many local jobs when it is your very own party wielding the axe is totally disingenuous.
“I am sure people in Newport will not tolerate the sort of insincerity that sees Conservative AMs crying crocodile tears about these job losses whilst their parliamentary party take so much delight in seeing them cut.”
Mr Asghar responded: “This sensitive issue is not a political point scoring game and Plaid Cymru should know better than to resort to that.
“Welsh Conservatives have made it clear we will oppose any cuts that are disproportionate to Wales and as a regional Assembly Member for South Wales East I will continue to fight for a fair deal here.
“That includes of course, the proposed closure of Newport passport office. Throughout this consultation I will be working for those affected by this plan and liaising closely with the Secretary of State for Wales. I was elected to work for my region, no matter who is in power in London.”