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Reform shatters Labour hold in key Carmarthenshire council seat

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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.

Winner: Reform’s Michelle Beer

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.

 

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Greens call for urgent shift to renewables amid energy price fears

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THE CEREDIGION Penfro Green Party has warned that rising global tensions are driving up energy costs and leaving households across west Wales increasingly exposed to price shocks.

In a statement issued on Wednesday (Mar 18), the party said the ongoing conflict in the Gulf is pushing up fuel prices, with knock-on effects on the cost of living, including food and household bills.

The Greens argue that decades of reliance on cheap oil have left the UK vulnerable, particularly in rural areas. They highlighted that around 72 per cent of households in the Ceredigion and North Pembrokeshire constituency rely on oil for heating.

The party is now calling for an urgent transition to electrified heating systems, supported by a major expansion of renewable energy, including wind and solar power.

Lead candidate Amy Nicholass said communities must be properly involved in decisions about new energy infrastructure.

“Consultations feel meaningless if people can’t see that their voices are being heard,” she said.

Plans for windfarms and new electricity pylons across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys have faced opposition from some residents and landowners. However, the Greens said these developments are part of the Welsh Government’s long-term strategy set out in the Future Wales National Plan 2040.

The party suggested it is inconsistent for political parties to support the strategy at a national level while opposing specific planning applications locally.

It also addressed concerns over alternatives to pylons, such as underground cable trenching, warning that these options are significantly more expensive and have not been widely used for high-voltage, long-distance transmission. Pylons, it added, are also more resilient during severe weather.

The Greens say planning decisions should be taken at the lowest appropriate level, giving local councils a stronger voice, while accepting that the Welsh Government should retain final authority over major strategic projects.

The party believes that greater community involvement, along with tangible local benefits such as improved transport, upgraded facilities, and access to renewable technologies, will be key to gaining public support.

The statement concludes that the conversation around energy infrastructure must shift quickly to reflect both the urgency of the crisis and the potential benefits for local communities.

 

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Crime

Motorist loses licence after report of drink-driving from Narberth pub

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A woman who was reported to police for drink-driving from a Narberth pub has been banned from the roads

A COURT has heard how a motorist was arrested by police officers following a call stating that she was drink-driving from the Ivy Bush in Narberth.

The call was made just after 10pm on February 22.

“The caller stated that Tanya Hanna was drinking-driving from the Ivy Bush in a Mercedes,” Crown Prosecutor Linda Baker told Haverfordwest magistrates this week.

When Hanna, 36, was apprehended by officers at Kiln Park Road, a roadside breath test proved positive while further tests at the police station showed she had 47 mcg of alcohol in her system, the legal limit being 35.

Hanna, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge. She was represented in court by Michael Kelleher.

“It wasn’t the most pleasant situation when someone took umbrage with Tanya and phoned the police,” he said. “As a result, she has lost her job.

“She knows she’s let herself and her family down, because without a driving licence, it’ll be very difficult for her to keep in regular contact with them, having to rely on public transport.”

Hanna, of Beach Hotel, Marsh Road, Pendine, was disqualified from driving for 14 months. She was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 surcharge.

 

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Crime

Driver banned after drink-driving on Cleddau Bridge

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A MILFORD HAVEN motorist has been banned from the roads after being caught driving on Cleddau Bridge when he was over the drink-drive limit.

Andrew Evans, 36, was stopped by officers just before 1am on February 25 as he drove his Nissan Qashqai northwards towards Neyland.

After providing a positive roadside breath test, subsequent tests carried out at the police station showed he had 42 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

This week Evans, of Great North Road, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates. He was represented in court by solicitor Michael Kelleher.

“He believed he’d allowed enough time for the alcohol to pass through his system but that, unfortunately for him, was a dreadful mistake although his alcohol levels were decreasing all the time,” said Mr Kelleher.

Evans, who has no previous convictions, was disqualified from driving for 13 months. He was fined £461 and ordered to pay a £184 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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