AN ASSEMBLY Member has apologised following a suicide reference during a debate.

The Leader has previously reported that Jack Sargeant, Labour AM for Alyn and Deeside, complained to Welsh Assembly Presiding Officer Elin Jones following about language used in the chamber.

Helen Mary Jones, Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales, had said during an intervention from the Conservative Member for North Wales, Mark Isherwood: "If he wants more rope to hang himself with, then I'm happy to provide him with it."

Since then Helen Mary Jones has apologised for using the term in the chamber and said it was "inappropriate".

Mr Sargeant, who previously said he was "deeply sickened" by the remark, said: "It’s completely right that the member has apologised for her language.

"Since entering the Assembly I’ve been fighting hard for a kinder politics and a change in political culture.

"That’s because I know our politics and language has a massive impact on our society, especially in a world which is becoming increasingly unstable.

"This is about the thousands of people in Wales and across the UK that are impacted by suicide."