Speaker of Welsh Assembly sparks outrage by calling for boycott of Israeli ambassador's visit

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The speaker of the Welsh Assembly was under pressure to resign yesterday after he called for a boycott of the Israeli ambassador.

Lord Elis-Thomas sent a confidential email urging members to stay away when Ron Prosor visits in a fortnight.

The envoy was invited by Mohammad Asghar, the assembly's only Muslim member, to visit the devolved body in Cardiff.

Lord Elis-Thomas responded to the invitation by issuing his own call to all assembly members to stay away in a 'private and confidential' email seen by the Daily Mail.

The Welsh nationalist and former MP earns £91,346 a year as Presiding Officer – the equivalent of the Speaker at Westminster.

Furious MPs claimed he had breached his duty of impartiality and called on him to apologise or resign.

Rhondda MP Chris Bryant said: 'This is a childish, petulant and completely ill-conceived snub.

'I take real offence that the Presiding Officer, who is meant to be above party politics, should behave with such little respect to Israel.'