Local Government

Eluned Morgan speaks to Local Democracy Reporting Service

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A VOTE for Reform will end in chaos for the Welsh Government if they gain power, and Plaid Cymru’s childcare proposals are “unsustainable without swingeing cuts,” Labour Senedd hopeful Eluned Morgan has warned.

The May 7 Senedd elections will see 44 candidates fighting for your vote in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in the new Ceredigion Penfro constituency stretching from north of Aberystwyth to Angle in the southwest and Llanteg in the southeast.

There are six Welsh Conservatives candidates, Plaid Cymru has eight candidates, Wales Green Party has six candidates, Reform UK also has six candidates, Welsh Labour is fielding seven candidates, Welsh Liberal Democrats have six candidates, one candidate is standing for Gwlad, and one for Heritage Party – Keep Our Countryside Green, along with three independents.

If a party wins enough votes, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd; if an independent candidate wins enough votes, they will win a seat in the Senedd.

Seats will reflect the percentage of votes each party or independent candidate gets.

One of those standing is Labour’s Eluned Morgan, most recently First Minister, who spoke to the Local Democracy Reporting Service in Narberth recently.

Many polls have suggested Labour is going to be hit hard by the ballot box on May 7, Eluned Morgan responding: “Polls are massively challenging, but nobody’s cast a vote yet, there’s a lot of undecided people out there.

“One of the things that comes up a lot [in canvassing] is the NHS, we need a sustainable offer in the future, at the beginning of the campaign there were a lot of scare stories about Withybush’s emergency department being closed, every election they say the same: ‘Withybush will close,’ and it never does.

“If we get in, we’ll have a £4bn programme for hospitals; there needs to be a new hospital in west Wales.

“We’ve spent a lot of money – £12m – on supporting Withybush, you don’t do that if you want to close a hospital.”

Polls have indicated one single party may not be able to gain enough votes to govern.

On the issue of a potential coalition or working closer with another party like Plaid Cymru, she said: “I’m not making promises on anything until after the election, what I will say is we won’t under any circumstances work with Reform, it’s important our values are clear and we wouldn’t work with them.”

On Reform she added: “People should think carefully about the services that they rely on and ask the question can they be assured they would continue if Reform were in power? They are untested, they have no coherence as a group.

“I know a win for Reform will end in chaos for the Welsh Government if they are the majority party.”

Plaid Cymru has pledged to provide universal childcare for children aged nine months to four years if the party forms the next Welsh government.

Responding, Eluned said: “Plaid are making promises way beyond what is affordable, their childcare offer we know is simply unsustainable without swingeing cuts in public services.

“I think that if Plaid is the majority party there will be public sector pay freezes for around 350,000 people in Wales if they fulfil their promises around childcare. We’re talking nurses, teachers, binmen, council office workers; because I can’t see where the money’s coming from.”

On her recent call for the controversial DARC ‘space radar’ proposals at Brawdy to be halted, she said: “During an election people need to know where you stand; Trump’s behaviour recently and his criticism in particular of the British armed forces has been unacceptable, his insults to people who served in Afghanistan really cut people.

“Until we get more clarity on whether he is a reliable partner I don’t think it is time to start a new defence project.”

Local Government

Aberystwyth mayoral appointment reversed after councillor controversy

Published

6 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Town council cancels mayor-making ceremony as incumbent asked to remain in post

ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL has dramatically reversed its decision over who will serve as mayor for the coming year, following controversy surrounding councillor Dylan Lewis-Rowlands.

At an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday evening, councillors agreed that current mayor Cllr Emlyn Jones should remain in post for a second term, replacing an earlier decision that had seen Cllr Lewis-Rowlands selected for the role.

The council confirmed Cllr Jones will formally continue as Mayor of Aberystwyth from Monday (May 18).

In a statement, the authority said: “Following an extraordinary meeting of the Council, Cllr Emlyn Jones has been appointed as Mayor elect for the 2026/27 municipal year and is due to be appointed as Mayor of Aberystwyth, commencing his second term of office from Monday 18 May 2026.

“In light of these circumstances, the council has decided that the Mayor Making Ceremony scheduled to take place on Friday 15 May will no longer go ahead.”

The reversal follows recent media reports concerning historic messages sent by Cllr Lewis-Rowlands to a teenage student, which prompted criticism and renewed scrutiny over his suitability for ceremonial office.

The messages, first reported by local media, were said to contain sexually suggestive content. The matter reportedly led to internal disciplinary action by the Labour Party, which issued a formal warning after reviewing complaints.

Public concern over the appointment had grown in recent weeks, with a protest reportedly planned ahead of the mayor-making ceremony. Those plans are understood to have been withdrawn following the council’s decision to retain the existing mayor.

Cllr Lewis-Rowlands has previously apologised for the messages, describing them as “stupid and embarrassing” and saying he regretted the upset caused.

He has maintained that multiple complaints and investigations into the matter were either dismissed or not upheld, with one formal warning issued by the Labour Party relating to a specific allegation.

The move leaves Cllr Emlyn Jones set to continue in office while questions remain over how the original mayoral appointment was allowed to proceed in the first place.

The controversy has also renewed debate over the standards expected of civic leaders in Aberystwyth, particularly in ceremonial roles such as mayor, where office holders are expected to act as ambassadors for the town and represent the wider community.

Local Government

Aberystwyth pizza restaurant wins licence appeal

Published

7 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Court overturns council decision to revoke Penny Pizza premises licence but imposes strict new conditions

AN ABERYSTWYTH restaurant has successfully overturned a council decision to revoke its premises licence.

The Olive Branch restaurant, trading as Penny Pizza Ltd from 35 Pier Street, Aberystwyth, won its appeal against a decision by Ceredigion County Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee to revoke its licence in November last year.

The appeal was heard at Aberystwyth Justice Centre on Thursday (May 14), where magistrates ruled in favour of the business and reinstated the premises licence.

Court documents show the company argued that the council’s original decision had been disproportionate, that the circumstances differed from the authority’s policy position and national guidance, and that steps had since been taken to address concerns through new systems and structures.

In allowing the appeal, the court set aside the council’s decision made on November 21, 2025, and ordered that the licence remain in force, subject to a number of additional conditions.

Among the new requirements, Penny Pizza Ltd must ensure right-to-work checks are carried out on all staff before they begin employment, in line with Home Office guidance.

The checks must be conducted by an independent third-party provider, such as a human resources or employment law consultancy, with detailed records kept and made available to licensing, police or immigration officers on request.

The court also ordered the licence holder to provide Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service with evidence within 14 days of fire drills, monthly alarm testing, the removal of bolts from a basement door and an emergency evacuation plan.

Magistrates made no order for costs, meaning each side will bear its own legal expenses.

The restaurant will continue to be permitted to provide late-night refreshment until as late as 4:00am on certain nights under the terms of its reinstated licence.

Local Government

Pembrokeshire elects first ever woman leader after three-way challenge

Published

11 hours ago

May 16, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

HISTORY has been made at Pembrokeshire County Council with the election of its first-ever woman leader, Tessa Hodgson, following a three-way battle at today’s May 15 AGM for the top job.

At Pembrokeshire County Council’s annual council meeting of May 15, an all-women battle to be the leader of Pembrokeshire County Council took place.

The leader of the council is elected every two years under the council’s constitution, and leader Cllr Jon Harvey had decided not to stand for re-election.

Pembroke St Mary North member Cllr Harvey became leader in May 2024 after narrowly beating fellow leadership hopeful Conservative group leader Di Clements by 30 votes to 27.

Cllr Harvey replaced Cllr David Simpson as leader.

Following his decision to step down, Cllr Harvey said: “It has been a fantastic two years, a real honour and privilege to lead the council, working with a talented and committed cabinet.

“After much thought and reflection, I feel now is the right time to make way for someone else to lead the council through the next 12 months to the local government elections in May 2027.”

Three nominations were received for the leadership battle: Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements, unaffiliated member and current Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Cllr Tessa Hodgson, and Leader of the Independent Group Cllr Anji Tinley.

Cllr Harvey had backed Cllr Hodgson for the top job.

The May 2026 leadership role will be held for one year, ahead of the 2027 council elections where the 2026 incumbent may, or may not, keep the role.

Two secret ballots were held, with 30 votes out of the 59 members present needed to secure a win.

During the first round, Cllr Hodgson gained 28 votes, Cllr Tinley 20, and Clements 11, Cllr Clements being eliminated for the second round.

That round saw Cllr Hodgson triumph by one vote: 30 to Cllr Tinley’s 29.

Accepting the role, Cllr Hodgson spoke of her “immense honour” to accept and being “part of history in the making as Pembrokeshire has its first ever female leader”.

Cllr Hodgson thanked her fellow leadership hopefuls for their “fair and honourable” challenge for the top job.

She also paid tribute to her colleagues and to, poignantly, her mother and late father, Cllr Viv Stoddart and former councillor Mike Stoddart for “their long record of public service,” and for their “always fair and unwavering support and guidance”.

Cllr Hodgeson has not yet announced her new Cabinet portfolios, the Cabinet remaining unchanged for now other than a vacancy following the news Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language Cllr Guy Woodham is to step down from his role.

The AGM also saw Cllr Delme Harries unanimously elected as council chair for the forthcoming year, replacing Cllr Maureen Bowen, and Cllr Nick Neumann elected as Deputy Presiding Member/Vice-Chair, beating Cllr Bethan Price by 34 votes to 24.

Cllr Simon Hancock will continue to serve as Presiding Member.