Local Government

First Minister left red-faced as Labour candidate pulls out during Hakin campaign visit

Published

2 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Candidate says withdrawal follows ‘abuse’ towards candidate’s son and backlash over Withybush Hospital downgrade plan

THE FIRST MINISTER was left in the embarrassing position of arriving to campaign in the Hakin ward without an active candidate. Labour’s by-election hopeful withdrew from the race on the same day as a high-profile visit to support her campaign.

The visit had been organised to support Labour candidate Nicola Harteveld, but she failed to appear, leaving party activists canvassing in the ward without her and apparently unaware she was about to pull out of the contest.

Harteveld later confirmed she had been considering her position before announcing her withdrawal shortly afterwards.

The former Labour candidate confirmed she was stepping back from the Pembrokeshire County Council by-election following verbal abuse directed towards her youngest son, bringing an abrupt end to the party’s campaign after nominations had already closed.

The development meant Welsh Labour could not field a replacement candidate, leaving the party effectively without representation in the contest despite a scheduled campaign visit by First Minister Eluned Morgan MS and party activists.

***First Minister: Eluned Morgan MS, made a video statement backing Nicola Harteveld on Thursday***

‘Abuse’ towards child

In a video statement released on social media, Harteveld said the decision followed an incident in which her son was allegedly shouted at by two men while walking home from volunteering.

“My youngest was walking home… and two men on the opposite side of the road shouted across ‘tell your mother she’s a Labour loving c***’,” she said.

She said her son was “absolutely devastated” by the incident.

“My family comes first. I am not prepared to put them in the line of fire to be targeted because of something that I’m doing,” she added.

Final decision

Harteveld, who currently serves as a town councillor, said she had spent several days reflecting on whether continuing in the election was compatible with her personal values before the incident involving her son became “the final straw”.

“My morals, my views and my values will not allow me to take this by-election any further,” she said.

She explained that she had wanted to stand in order to take residents’ concerns directly to County Hall, rather than relying on others to represent them, and believed standing as a Labour candidate would have allowed her to raise issues more directly with decision-makers.

First Minister visit confusion

Earlier the same day, First Minister Eluned Morgan MS and Labour activists were canvassing in the Hakin ward in support of Harteveld, apparently unaware she was considering withdrawing from the race.

Campaign photographs were later shared on social media showing the First Minister and party members canvassing locally. However, observers quickly noticed the absence of the candidate herself, prompting repeated questions online about her whereabouts.

Multiple commenters asked “Where is the candidate?” beneath the post, with the situation attracting significant criticism from some social media users.

Shortly afterwards, Harteveld confirmed she was withdrawing from the election.

A post by the First Minister praising what she described as a “great response in Hakin for Nicola Harteveld & Welsh Labour” while also addressing concerns about Withybush Hospital services was later deleted after attracting a large number of comments, many of them critical of Labour and Welsh Government health policies.

Healthcare tensions backdrop

The by-election campaign has taken place against the backdrop of continuing anger across Pembrokeshire over decisions affecting Withybush Hospital, which Harteveld acknowledged had “rocked our community”.

She described personal experiences of travelling long distances for medical appointments with her partner, saying such situations contributed to frustration among residents.

The hospital controversy has become a dominant political issue locally, with strong emotions expressed during campaigning and on social media.

Political impact

Because Harteveld withdrew after the legal deadline for nominations closed, Welsh Labour cannot substitute another candidate. Her name may still appear on ballot papers depending on printing arrangements, although she is no longer campaigning.

The sequence of events left Labour campaigning in the ward without an active candidate and represents a significant setback for the party locally, particularly given the personal involvement of the First Minister in the visit.

Election background

The by-election, scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, was called following the death of Independent councillor Mike Stoddart, who had represented the Hakin ward for many years.

The remaining candidates are:

Derrick Abbott (Independent)
Sam Booth (Wales Green Party)
Lee James Bridges (Independent)
Duncan Edwards (Independent)
Brian Taylor (Welsh Conservative)
Scott Thorley (Reform UK)
Sam Warden (Welsh Liberal Democrats)

Education

Parents urge council not to close Ysgol Llansteffan

Published

22 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Campaigners call for delay amid Welsh language investigation and rising pupil numbers

PARENTS and campaigners have urged Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet not to recommend the closure of Ysgol Llansteffan when members meet on Monday (Feb 23).

The appeal comes ahead of a proposed decision that could see the village’s Welsh-medium primary school close in August this year.

The Ysgol Llansteffan Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), supported by Cymdeithas yr Iaith, has written to councillors calling for the process to be halted, arguing that key evidence remains incomplete and that the case for closure is flawed.

Among their concerns is an ongoing investigation by the Welsh Language Commissioner into the language impact assessment used to support the closure proposal. Campaigners say it would be inappropriate for the council to make a final decision before the investigation is concluded.

They also claim no council decision-makers have visited the school to verify the information used in the proposal, despite significant changes in circumstances, including a rise in pupil numbers to 17 as of January 2026.

The PTA argues that this increase undermines earlier projections and raises questions about the reliability of longer-term forecasts used to justify closure.

Financial concerns have also been raised. While council documents suggest annual savings of around £112,000, campaigners say transport costs of approximately £50,000 per year and inflationary pressures have not been clearly accounted for, potentially overstating the net benefit.

Parents say closure would remove parental choice and risk damaging Welsh-medium education in the area by forcing some children to travel further or potentially move into English-medium provision.

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has backed the PTA’s call, warning that the council’s objection report failed to properly address concerns that insufficient school capacity elsewhere could push pupils out of Welsh-medium education altogether.

Campaigners have also criticised what they describe as factual inconsistencies in the council’s reports, including outdated enrolment figures and conflicting capacity estimates for neighbouring schools.

The PTA has asked the council to defer any decision until updated data is available, the Commissioner’s findings are published, and alternative options for sustaining the school have been fully explored.

In their letter, parents stressed they remain willing to work constructively with the council to develop a long-term solution that would allow the school to remain open as a sustainable Welsh-medium provision for the community.

Carmarthenshire County Council has previously said the proposal is intended to address falling pupil numbers, high surplus places and financial pressures at the school. Cabinet members were told earlier in the process that neighbouring Ysgol Llangain would have sufficient capacity to accommodate pupils if the closure proceeds, and that transferring learners would provide access to improved facilities and help ensure long-term sustainability of education provision in the area.

The final decision is expected to be taken by full council in March following the Cabinet’s recommendation.

Local Government

Pembroke Dock town centre building to get new lease of life

Published

23 hours ago

February 20, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for a town centre office to a foot clinic have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr and Mrs Lloyd, through agent Matthew Hitches Architectural Services, sought permission for a change of use of an existing ground-floor office area to a proposed foot clinic, along with associated works including the demolition and rebuild of a sub-standard single storey extension, at 75 Queen Street, Pembroke Dock.

The application was supported by Pembroke Dock Town Council, which said it welcomed more services in the town.

An officer report recommending approval said the scheme, in the town’s conservation area and on the periphery of the town centre, is flanked to the north by buildings forming part of King Street, to the east by mixed use hairdressers / beauty centre & residential and to the west by mixed use embroidery / printing services and residential.

It said a 2022 council retail survey said the town had a 19 per cent vacant level for Class a retail units, down from 24 per cent the previous year, but above the average for the county and for Wales, at 17 per cent, based on reported data 2023-2025 from the Welsh Retail Consortium.

For the change of commercial class, it said Planning Policy Wales stated “Where economic decline is impacting on a retail and commercial centre, emphasis on retaining A1 uses in premises either in primary or secondary areas, which have been vacant for a period of time, may undermine a centre’s viability and vitality. In such circumstances planning authorities should consider how non-A1 uses may play a greater role to increasing diversity and reducing vacancy levels.”

The report added: “Due to the scale of the development, it is not considered that the proposal would impact negatively vitality or viability of the town centre.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

Local Government

Milford Haven Hakin by-election candidates confirmed

Published

3 days ago

February 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE LIST of candidates standing in the upcoming Pembrokeshire County Council by-election for the Milford Haven: Hakin ward has been published.

Nominations have now closed, and the official Statement of Persons Nominated has been released by the local authority.

Eight candidates will contest the seat. They are:

Derrick Abbott – Independent
Sam Booth – Wales Green Party
Lee James Bridges – Independent
Duncan Edwards – Independent
Nicola Catherine Harteveld – Welsh Labour
Brian Taylor – Welsh Conservative Party
Scott Thorley – Reform UK
Sam Warden – Welsh Liberal Democrats

The by-election will take place on Tuesday, March 17.

Residents wishing to vote must ensure they are registered by midnight on Friday, February 27. Applications can be made online via the UK Government website.

Applications for new postal votes, or changes to existing postal voting arrangements, must be received by 5:00pm on Monday, March 2. Applications to vote by proxy must be submitted by 5:00pm on Monday, March 9.

Poll cards will be sent to registered electors ahead of the election. The council has confirmed that registered 16 and 17-year-olds, along with qualifying foreign nationals, are eligible to vote in this election.

Photographic identification will not be required at polling stations.

The full Statement of Persons Nominated, including full party descriptions, is available on the Pembrokeshire County Council website.