NEWLY-ELECTED Mid and West Wales AM Neil Hamilton has been reprimanded after making “sexist” remarks during his maiden speech as leader of the UKIP group in the Senedd.

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones, who took over the Presiding Officer role at the Assembly earlier this month, rebuked Mr Hamilton in the Senedd last week for his comments which came on a day when a deadlock over the appointment of a First Minister was broken when Leanne Wood’s nomination was withdrawn following a deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

Mr Hamilton sparked the row after describing Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and Lib Dem AM Kirsty Williams as “political concubines” in Carwyn Jones’ “harem” for their role in returning Mr Jones as First Minister in a Labour minority government.

During Mr Hamilton’s speech he said he “regretted the role Plaid Cymru had played” and said Ms Williams had “managed to prop up this tottering administration”.

“So I’m afraid that these two ladies have just made themselves political concubines in Carwyn’s hareem,” he said.

“What a gruesome prospect that must be.”

He asked what the two had had in reward for “the sacrifice of their political virtue”.

Ms Jones told the Senedd on Tuesday that she had had complaints about the comments and said she found Mr Hamilton’s "insult of the integrity of other members through sexist language and sexual innuendo to be unacceptable".

The presiding officer said Mr Hamilton "fell foul" of standing orders against "discourteous and unbecoming conduct", and "language that is disorderly, discriminatory, offensive, or which detracts from he dignity of the assembly".

Ms Jones said she wanted to see more "vibrant, vigorous and robust" debate in the assembly, but warned members not to "cross the line".

Both Ms Williams and Ms Wood accused Mr Hamilton of using “blatant sexist language”.

Ms Wood said: “This sexist language has no place in the National Assembly for Wales, or in society.”