News

Reform shatters Labour hold in key Carmarthenshire council seat

Published

7 months ago

May 30, 2025

Faith-led campaigner Michelle Beer becomes county’s first Reform councillor

REFORM has pulled off a major political upset in Carmarthenshire, winning the Lliedi by election with over 42 percent of the vote and unseating Labour in one of its long-held strongholds.

Michelle Beer, a graduate of the Bible College of Wales and an active figure in local faith communities, was elected on Thursday (May 29) as the new councillor for Lliedi, becoming the first Reform UK member on Carmarthenshire County Council. Her victory represents not just a significant local result, but a potential shift in Welsh political sentiment.

The final result was:

Reform UK (Michelle Beer): 42.6 percent (568 votes)
Labour (Andrew Bragoli): 23.4 percent (312 votes)
Independent (Sharon Burdess): 8.7 percent
Plaid Cymru (Taylor Reynolds): 8.0 percent
Conservative (Richard Williams): 7.0 percent
Independent (Alison Leyshon): 6.5 percent
Liberal Democrat (Jonathan Burree): 3.1 percent
Gwlad (Wayne Erasmus): 0.7 percent

The Labour vote collapsed by nearly 35 percentage points compared with the 2022 election. The Conservatives also saw their share fall by almost 9 points. Reform UK had not stood in the previous contest and surged straight to the top of the poll. No Independent candidate from the previous election stood again.

***Michelle Beer has given a big thank you to everyone for making the effort to join the campaign (Pic: Supplied)***

Michelle Beer, who campaigned actively with the Llanelli branch of Reform UK, focused her message on localism, accountability, and traditional values. Her campaign, described by supporters as energetic and community-driven, included regular doorstep conversations, local prayer gatherings, and public expressions of faith.

She is married to Gareth Beer, a Kidwelly Town councillor and former Reform UK general election candidate in Llanelli. Michelle served as his campaign manager and has been closely involved in the party’s regional growth.

During the campaign, she reflected on her time at the Bible College of Wales and her continued involvement in local worship meetings in Kidwelly. Her social media posts frequently referenced prayer, unity, and a desire to bring moral clarity to politics.

The significance of the result is considerable. Lliedi is a historically Labour-voting ward in an area where the party has traditionally been dominant. Reform UK’s breakthrough will raise concern within Welsh Labour ranks, particularly as dissatisfaction with the Welsh Government grows over issues such as NHS performance, the economy, and transport policy.

The result also points to a broader trend. With Reform gaining support across working-class communities in both England and Wales, the party is beginning to challenge the old political order in parts of the country once considered safe territory for Labour.

This by-election result may not alter the overall balance of power in Carmarthenshire, but it has clearly altered the political conversation. For Reform UK, it is a toehold in rural west Wales. For Labour, it is a wake-up call.

The question now is whether the shock result in Lliedi is a one-off—or the first sign of a larger realignment.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

50 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: