Want to keep up to date on Welsh politics? Sign up and get political news sent straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Independent AM Neil McEvoy has deleted a tweet showing a picture of him wearing boxing gloves saying he's "ready" for Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood.

Mr McEvoy was criticised for tweeting the picture, showing him with Culture and Sport minister Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas wearing boxing gloves outside the Senedd.

He issued an apology, saying it had been posted by a staff member.

The Cardiff councillor and South Wales Central AM said: "I usually manage my own Twitter account with the pressures of time today the publicity for the boxing event was delegated to a staff member who made a mistake in what he thought was a light-hearted tweet.

"He apologised and the matter was resolved. He is a valued member of staff who I am sure will have learned a lesson."

The tweet was deleted when Lord Elis-Thomas tweeted him directly asking to take it down.

Lord Elis-Thomas said: "The implication of this tweet is wholly inappropriate - the original picture was taken to highlight the positive work of the new Cross Party Group on Boxing & should certainly not be used in this manner. Please take it down @neiljmcevoy "

Other AMs had heavily criticised Mr McEvoy for the tweet. Plaid AM Bethan Sayed said she was "outraged".

Mr McEvoy said that a response to a message on Twitter from Plaid AM Sian Gwenllian, who said it was "not harmless humour", had also been sent by his staff member.

The response had said: "Sian, just so you know I meant absolutely no malice by this. It was a jokey question from a journalist and I gave a jokey response.

"If @LeanneWood asks me to take the tweet down then I will happily do it. We're both members of the same party and on the same side."

The row erupted after Mr McEvoy reacted to a tweet promoting Wales Online's latest Martin Shipton Meets... podcast, in which Plaid leader Ms Wood is asked who she disliked more - Mr McEvoy or Lord Elis-Thomas.

Listen now: Martin Shipton Meets Leanne Wood

The tweet had shown a the picture of him and Lord Elis-Thomas wearing boxing gloves with the message "we're ready".

But there was massive outcry on Twitter over the message.

BBC Wales political journalist David Deans later tweeted that Mr McEvoy's aide, Matthew Ford had posted the original tweet.

And has since apologised to Mr McEvoy for it.

Mr Ford said: “I sent the tweet from Neil’s twitter account without his knowledge. He usually manages his own account but asked me to promote his Cross Party Boxing event with the Minister for Sport.

"The tweet was sent without any malice. I have the upmost respect for Plaid Leader Leanne Wood and Dafydd Elis Thomas.

"I have apologised to Neil and will ensure that any future tweets sent on his behalf are checked by him first.”