A PAIR of South Wales East AMs have butted heads after one claimed Newport was “pedalling backwards in all walks of life”.

Plaid Cymru’s Steffan Lewis has criticised Conservative Mohammad Asghar following comments he made in the Senedd last week.

But Mr Asghar has blasted the criticism as “ill-informed nonsense”.

Speaking on Wednesday, March 15, Mr Asghar said: “It used to be a wonderful city, Newport, and a prosperous town.

“But if you look at it now, I think instead of going forward, it’s pedalling backwards in all walks of life.”

But Mr Lewis, who was first elected to the Assembly last May, demanded an apology from the Tory AM for his comments.

“Yes, the city faces challenges, but to say that it is going backwards in every respect is disrespectful to local people and to those working hard to make the place a success,” he said.

“There is also huge potential in Newport, and we are seeing new growth and innovation.

“Businesses finding success on a global stage, a university that is a world leader in cutting edge research.

“Mohammad Ashgar’s comments are an insult to the city. He should be engaging in sharing ideas and solutions not branding Newport a failure.”

But Mr Asghar dismissed his criticism, saying: “I came to make Newport my home 47 years ago, before Steffan Lewis was even born.

“I love this city and its people.

“When I spoke of the sad decline of this once vibrant city with its empty buildings and litter on the streets, I was reflecting the concerns that many residents have expressed to me.

“Steffan Lewis wasn't born, brought up or live in Newport.

“His criticism of me therefore is ill informed nonsense.”

Mr Asghar was first elected to the Assembly as a Plaid Cymru AM in 2007, but defected to the Conservatives two years later, saying he felt “out of tune” with the party’s policies.