News

Over 117,000 people newly registered to vote in Wales

Published

2 years ago

June 19, 2024

AS the deadline passed yesterday to register to vote, 117,477 people in Wales signed up who were not previously on the voters toll.

However, the The Electoral Reform Society (ERS) is calling for the next government to bring in Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) across the UK to make it easier for people to cast their vote and help enfranchise millions of missing voters. Wales is already planning to introduce AVR, with legislation progressing through the Senedd currently. This should be introduced for 2026, pending a successful pilot. 

AVR can work in a number of ways. It involves registration officers pre-populating the register from existing databases, rather than voters having to initiate the registration process themselves.

The ERS’s call comes after government figures showed that just under 2.9 million applications to register to vote were made from between when the general election was called on May 22nd and the registration deadline of 23:59 on June 18th. Despite a huge surge on the last day of 632,863 applications lifting the total figure, the overall number of applications is still well short of the around 8 million people the Electoral Commission says are not registered to vote or registered incorrectly.

Following yesterday’s deadline, the final number of registrations since the general election was called stood at 2,898,265. This broke down as 2,450,646 in England, 281,339 in Scotland, 117,477 in Wales and 48,803 in Northern Ireland.

Willie Sullivan, Senior Director of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “Despite a huge surge in last-minute applications to register to vote, it is clear today that millions of voters will still be missing from the electoral rolls come polling day. That means millions of people will effectively be locked out of having their say on the direction of the country in the coming years.

“This should be the last election where we are in this damaging situation. We are calling on whoever is in government after July 4th to bring in Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) across the UK, which is already set to be introduced into Wales.

“Moving to AVR would be a win-win for the next government as it would make life easier for voters by taking one more thing off their to-do list while at the same time strengthening our democracy by helping enfranchise millions of missing voters.

“However, the high number of unregistered voters also points to a deeper malaise in our politics, where millions of people are clearly disengaged with our democracy. This comes at a time when trust in our politics is also now at rock bottom.

“A big part of the problem is people not feeling that their vote counts or has any meaningful impact, which is a direct result of the distorting First Past the Post voting system used for Westminster elections.

“Our research found that at the last general election over 22 million votes (70.8%) didn’t count towards the result, in that they were either cast for a losing candidate or surplus votes for the winner.

“The next government urgently needs to grip the crisis of trust in politics and disengagement with our democracy, and a key part of that has to be bringing in a fairer proportional voting system that means every vote would matter come election day and seats in Parliament would more accurately reflect the way the country voted.”

Crime

Dock motorist avoids jail after drug-drive crash

Published

49 seconds ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence after taking his mother’s car without permission and crashing into a wall, causing damage to a parked BMW.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that on September 27, 2025, Tony Brundrett, 21, took his mother’s Vauxhall Astra from her home and drove off without her consent.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that Brundrett lost control of the vehicle and collided with a wall.

“The wall collapsed as a result of the impact, causing damage to a parked BMW,” she said.

The owner of the BMW said the vehicle suffered bodywork damage and scratching following the incident.

When arrested, Brundrett was found to have 253 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine metabolite – in his system, more than five times the legal limit of 50.

The court heard that although Brundrett’s mother confirmed the car was hers, she did not wish to criminalise her son.

Brundrett, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, criminal damage, and drug-driving.

Defending, Alaw Harries said: “He accepts his behaviour was foolish and irresponsible and wishes to apologise to the court for what took place.

“At the time of the offence, he was experiencing significant personal difficulties. This was the first and last time he has taken drugs, and he was not thinking clearly. While that is not an excuse, it provides context. He is now in a much better place.”

Magistrates sentenced Brundrett to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 24 months. He was disqualified from driving for two years and ordered to pay £100 compensation, a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.

Crime

Dock driver avoids jail after drug-drive crash in mother’s car

Published

2 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

BMW damaged after Astra taken without consent in Pembroke Dock incident

A PEMBROKE DOCK motorist has narrowly avoided an immediate prison sentence after taking his mother’s car without permission and crashing into a wall, causing damage to a parked vehicle.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Tony Brundrett, 21, took his mother’s Vauxhall Astra from her home in Pembroke Dock on September 27, 2025, without her consent.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court that Brundrett subsequently collided with a wall, which collapsed and struck a parked BMW.

“The wall fell over as a result of the impact, causing damage to a nearby BMW,” she said.

The owner of the BMW, Damian Gorzach, reported bodywork damage and scratching to his vehicle following the incident.

When arrested, Brundrett was found to have 253 micrograms of benzoylecgonine – a cocaine metabolite – in his system. The legal limit is 50 micrograms.

The court heard that while Brundrett’s mother confirmed ownership of the Astra, she did not wish to pursue matters against her son.

Representing him, solicitor Alaw Harries said her client accepted his actions were “foolish and irresponsible” and expressed remorse.

“At the time of the offence, he was experiencing significant personal difficulties,” she said.

“This was the first and last time he had taken drugs, and he was not thinking clearly. He does not seek to excuse his behaviour, but he is now in a much better place.”

Magistrates sentenced Brundrett to 18 weeks’ custody, suspended for 24 months. He was also disqualified from driving for two years.

He must pay £100 in compensation, a £154 surcharge, and £85 in prosecution costs.

Crime

Driver banned after A478 crash and walkaway

Published

2 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Motorist admits string of offences including driving while disqualified and uninsured

A LLANDISSILIO motorist has been handed an interim driving disqualification after walking away from a crash on the A478.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Dean Duffy, aged 31, collided with a fence and hedge while driving a Ford Puma at Clunderwen on Tuesday (Mar 4). He then failed to stop at the scene or report the incident to police.

Duffy, of Maesybryn, Llandissilio, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road traffic collision, failing to report an accident, driving without third party insurance, and driving while disqualified.

Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told the court: “A vehicle collided with a fence and hedge and the bumper came off. The vehicle was abandoned, but correspondence left on the seat identified the defendant as possibly being responsible.”

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until Tuesday (Apr 28) to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report by the probation service.