A council leader who fell over while drunk after allegations he drank a “whole bottle of gin” and then threatened to “wipe out” the Welsh party Plaid Cymru has quit.
Steve Hunt, from Neath Port Talbot Council, said he “should have exercised better judgement” after becoming “intoxicated” at a Welsh Local Government Association conference.
Hunt said he was a strong supporter of the Welsh language, but admitted saying he wanted to “wipe out” Plaid Cymru politically as “banter”.
He denied drinking a bottle of gin.
Hunt will continue to serve as an independent councillor, but a council spokesperson said a new leader would be appointed on 14 October.
A source who attended the conference told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the independent councillor for the Crynant, Onllwyn and Seven Sisters ward was loudly bragging about drinking heavily.
Hunt said the comment about Plaid Cymru “should be understood in the context of political banter and disagreement at the end of a long evening, rather than as a threat or anything other than a political statement”.
The councillor also said there were “personal circumstances” that contributed to his behaviour which were “relevant”.
His role as council leader had carried a “significant level of pressure and responsibility”, he said, and he saw the event as an opportunity to “switch off” from those pressures.
“Regrettably, I drank far beyond what was sensible,” he said.
Hunt said it did not excuse his behaviour and that he apologised to the Plaid Cymru group leader the following morning.
Hunt has led the council’s Independent and Plaid Cymru coalition since local elections took place in 2022.
It was the first time in Neath Port Talbot’s history that the Labour Party lost control of the council.
Following his decision to step down, Hunt said he had done what he believed was in the “best interests” of the council and residents and communities that it represents.
“I will continue to serve as an Independent councillor and will continue to work for the residents and communities I represent,” he said.
