Neil Hamilton launches 'sexist' tirade against two AMs in maiden Welsh Assembly speech

Neil Hamilton has sparked a sexism row after describing two senior female Welsh AMs as “political concubines” in his maiden speech at in Welsh Assembly.

In his first speech to a legislative body since he left the House of Commons in 1997, he referred to Lib Dem AM Kirsty Williams and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood as members of Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones’ “hareem”.

It came after Mr Jones was able to form a minority Labour government in the Senedd after an agreement with the second biggest party Plaid Cymru and the sole Lib Dem to solve an unprecedented deadlock.

Labour won 29 out of 60 seats in the election on 5 May and had initially assumed it would be able to form a minority government without challenge.

But a coalition of several parties, including Ukip which won its first seven seats in the assembly, put Leanne Wood forward as First Minister instead.

An agreement was finally reached on Tuesday.

During his speech, Mr Hamilton - who was elected Ukip group leader in the Assembly - attacked Plaid Cymru for agreeing to the new government and accused Ms Williams of “propping up this tottering administration”.

He said: "So I'm afraid that these two ladies have just made themselves political concubines in Carwyn's hareem. What a gruesome prospect that must be."

He asked what they had been promised in exchange for the “sacrifice of their political virtue”.

Later on, he also accused Ms Wood of being “a very cheap date indeed”.

Firing back Ms Williams accused the former Tory MP of using “blatant sexist language”.

Ms Wood added: "This sexist language has no place in the National Assembly for Wales, or in society, and we will not stand for sexism, homophobia or racism."

But Mr Hamilton was unrepentant following the furore and told BBC Wales: “Je ne regrette rien”.