Politics
Labour call to lower voting age
IN THE RUN up to the General Election, Labour have called for a lowering of the voting age from 18 to 16. One of Labour’s key manifesto pledges will give
approximately 1.5million more young people the vote, should Labour be elected. In Wales Labour say that 75,000 16- 17 year olds are currently ‘being denied’ the chance to have their say, and that changing that would be an early priority for a Labour government. Shadow Welsh Secretary, Owen Smith, said of the policy: “There is a real appetite amongst young people to play an active part in our politics. In the first week of this campaign, I visited every seat in Wales and was bowled over by the sheer number of young people that have been motivated to stand up and make a diff erence in this election.
“If the Tories had supported Labour’s calls to lower the voting age, then parties across the UK would have sat up and taken notice of younger voters as in many key seats the number of 16 and 17 year exceeds the sitting MP’s majority. “A Labour government would give those 1.5m people across the UK a voice. We would allow them to make the choice for themselves.” Plaid Cymru AM, Simon Thomas, supported the idea, but also promised that Plaid would go further, saying: “Plaid Cymru want to go further than many other parties we want to give young people aged 16 and 17 the right to vote, and we want to introduce the Single Transferable Vote system to make votes fairer. “Plaid Cymru was advocating votes at 16 when both Labour’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were Prime Ministers.
It’s likely that Labour’s broken promises not to introduce tuition fees or top-up fees were amongst the reasons as to why the former Labour government didn’t lower the voting age when it had a 13 year opportunity to do so. “Plaid Cymru would love to see a greater level of political engagement amongst young voters as they are the future of our nation.” Off ering broad support to the idea was Conservative MP, Simon Hart, though he also stated he believed other factors were also important for political engagement, saying: “I have no issue with lowering the voting age, but Labour are mistaken if they think that is the only thing that puts younger people off politics. Too often we hear people say that voting ‘doesn’t make any diff erence’ and that we are ‘all as bad as each other’.
The task that faces all Parties is not to use this issue as some way of scoring cheap points because that is the problem, not the solution. We will win respect and support not through gimmickry, but through sensible policies that actively encourage younger voters to take part. Creating 2 million new apprenticeships since 2010, to add to the 2 million new jobs is just a start.” The British Electorate has been able to vote at the age of 18 since 1969, prior to that it was 21. Women have had the vote since 1918, but they had to be 30 or over; in 1928 that was changed to the same as the voting age for men, 21.
Politics
‘A political giant’: Tributes to former Plaid Cymru leader Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas

SENEDD Members from across the political spectrum paid tribute to Dafydd Elis-Thomas following the former Plaid Cymru leader’s death on Friday.
Lord Elis-Thomas served as the first speaker of the then-National Assembly for Wales for 12 years from the dawn of Welsh devolution in 1999 until 2011.
Elin Jones, the current speaker or Llywydd, described her predecessor as a “close friend to many here, a political comrade to many too, and an enigma to all”.
Leading tributes in the debating chamber, or Siambr, on February 11, she said: “This Senedd today is what it is because, to a very great extent, of Dafydd Elis-Thomas.
“And, certainly, all of us in this wonderful Senedd building and this wonderful Siambr are here because of Dafydd’s vision and perseverance.”
Lord Elis-Thomas left Plaid Cymru to sit as an independent in 2016 after clashing with former leader Leanne Wood over support for the Labour Welsh Government.
A year later, he was appointed minister for culture, sport and tourism in Carwyn Jones’ government – a role he held until stepping down at the 2021 election.
Eluned Morgan, who joined the Welsh Government in the same reshuffle, said Wales had lost one of its greatest servants who left an indelible mark on the nation’s democracy.

Baroness Morgan told the Siambr: “He helped to establish this institution when it was a fragile flower, he encapsulated the best of the Welsh intellectual tradition.”
She said Lord Elis-Thomas transcended party lines, influencing Labour as well as Plaid Cymru and prompting a shift from the party’s more unionist tradition towards devolution.
Baroness Morgan joked: “He’d always have a go at things. On one occasion, he went on a visit to Zip World. The sight of a lord bouncing up and down on a trampoline in the caverns in Llechwedd was, I’m told, a sight to behold.
“And, in classic Dafydd style, when he emerged from the chwarel [quarry] he pointed to a plaque on the wall which he’d unveiled 40 years previously.
“That was Dafydd – he’d been everywhere and he knew everyone.”
Lord Elis-Thomas, who was party leader from 1984 to 1991, hoped for a homecoming in 2023 but abandoned his bid to rejoin Plaid Cymru in the face of a disciplinary-style process.
Often outspoken, the Carmarthen-born politician had a rocky relationship with his own party and faced criticism for accepting a life peerage in 1992.
As Senedd speaker in 2004, he ordered Ms Wood to leave the chamber for “discourtesy” after she called the Queen “Mrs Windsor” then refused to withdraw the remark.
And, after quitting the party only six months after the 2016 election, Lord Elis-Thomas, rejected calls from former colleagues to trigger a by-election.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru’s current leader, described his predecessor as a peerless politician who was a part of the party’s DNA for more than half a century.
Mr ap Iorwerth said: “Wales is indebted to Dafydd for shaping this chamber as it is today but its debt is just as great to him for standing for what was just and what was right.
“And he shaped our nation in accordance with those values. We could not have wished for a better inaugural Llywydd than Dafydd. He was a political architect, a man of bold vision.”

Lord Elis-Thomas began his political career in 1974 as the “baby of the house”, the then-youngest MP, before serving as a Senedd Member for 22 years from 1999.
Darren Millar, leader of the Senedd Conservative group, described Lord Elis-Thomas as a titan of Welsh politics who was never afraid to challenge the status quo.
Mr Millar said: “It was Dafydd’s steady hand that helped cement the Senedd’s place at the heart of our national life and Welsh democracy.”

The Tory recalled the peer approaching him at an event at the Welsh Mountain Zoo and saying: “I’ve come to see you in your natural habitat.”
Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds said: “When strong characters pass away it’s a time to remember that we, here, as Members of the Senedd stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Mabon ap Gwynfor, who succeeded Lord Elis-Thomas as the Senedd Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, described his contribution to Welsh politics as immeasurable.

His Plaid Cymru colleague Adam Price told the Senedd: “His truly was a long march through the institutions, an embodiment of that idea that sometimes the most revolutionary act is to take your seat at the table and ever so subtly change the conversation from within.”
He said: “More than anyone else, Dafydd El – and to those of us who knew and loved him, he will always be Dafydd El – expanded the political horizons of Wales’s possibilities.”
Politics
Pembrokeshire County Council set to overspend by £2.1m

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council is expected to overspend by just over £2m, down from previous predictions of nearly £4m, with £10m pressure on the council coffers coming from projected overspends within Social Care & Housing.
Members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s February meeting of Cabinet received a report on the quarter three figures for the 2024-25 budget, highlighting an expected overspend of £1.4m at the end of the financial year, down from a November prediction of £3.9m.
The third quarter £1.4m overspend is increased to £2.1m when a projected £0.7m shortfall in 2024-25 council tax collection is taken into account.
The budget for 2024-25 was approved by council on March 7 of last year. This is the third budget monitoring report for 2024-25, with the predicted overspend up from £2.9m in the quarter one figures.
A report for members, presented by cabinet member for corporate finance and efficiencies Councillor Joshua Beynon said: “The approved revenue net expenditure budget for 2024-25 is £303.5m. This budget was set against a backdrop of increased level of demand, complexity and cost of packages within our School ALN provision, Children’s Services, Adult Services and Homelessness.
“This increase in demand, complexity and cost of packages has continued into 2024-25 with material projected overspends within Social Care & Housing totalling £10m.
“Although work is being undertaken to try to reduce the cost of packages, it should be noted that these demand levels are projected to continue into 2025-26 and future years, creating further additional permanent budget pressures that will either need to be met through additional budget savings, income generation or increased council tax.
“The projected outturn at quarter three for 2024-25 is £304.9m, representing a projected overspend of £1.4m. There is also a projected shortfall in 2024-25 council tax collection which will result in a £0.7m reduction in funding received. The resulting £2.1m shortfall will need to be funded from reserves in 2024-25.”
Members heard a moratorium on non-essential expenditure would remain in place for the remainder of the financial year.
News
Police report filed over Neyland Town Council email controversy

EX-MAYOR’S REPORT TO COPS OVER NEYLAND TOWN COUNCIL BULLYING

A FORMER Neyland Mayor has reported Neyland Town Councillor David Devauden to the police following explosive allegations of bullying and harassment against the town’s Clerk, Libby Matthews.
The controversy stems from an article published by The Pembrokeshire Herald on February 7, which revealed the contents of an email sent by Cllr Devauden to the Clerk. The email, described as containing intimidating language, personal attacks, and a demand for resignation, has been widely condemned.
Former Neyland Mayor Andrew Lye, who resigned in 2023 amid what he described as a “toxic” council environment, has now taken action. He visited Haverfordwest Police Station with a copy of The Herald article and formally reported the matter, obtaining a Storm reference number as evidence.
A COUNCIL IN CRISIS
The scandal is the latest in a series of controversies to engulf Neyland Town Council, which has been dogged by allegations of misconduct, internal disputes, and division over the past two years. In June 2023, Lye stepped down following allegations of racism, antisemitism, and anti-Islamic sentiment from Cllr Brian Rothero, based on an old blog post regarding male circumcision. This matter, along with another complaint made by Cllr Steve Thomas alleging conspiracy and fraud, is currently being investigated by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
Lye’s removal from the mayoralty was particularly controversial due to the nature of the allegations. In a 2008 blog post, Lye questioned the necessity of religious circumcision, stating that if God “made man in his own image,” the practice seemed contradictory. This remark was later used by Cllr Rothero to claim Lye had engaged in antisemitic and anti-Muslim rhetoric, leading to his ousting.
The controversy drew national attention, with the National Secular Society (NSS) and the men’s health charity 15 Square publicly condemning the council’s decision to remove Lye. The NSS and 15 Square argued that the allegations against Lye were “baseless” and warned that punishing him for raising concerns about circumcision would create a chilling effect on free expression.
The charities pointed out that circumcision has been listed as a “harmful” practice by the United Nations and highlighted documented cases where children in the UK have suffered serious complications, including life-threatening haemorrhages and deformities. The NSS also referenced a 2018 YouGov poll in which 62% of the British public supported banning non-medical circumcision of boys.
PUBLIC OUTRAGE GROWS

Lye, angered by the contents of Devauden’s email, stated: “I was totally incensed by the words I read in the Herald article.” He referenced key parts of the email, which allegedly included the phrases “You’re a dead (wo)man walking”, “You’re not fit for purpose”, and comments about Matthews’ mental health and outside influences.
Commenting on the broader situation, Lye added: “The people of Neyland and the Town Council deserve better. The Town Clerk certainly does not deserve to be treated like this. Cllr Devauden should resign as a matter of urgency if just one word in that article is correct. He has brought the Town Council into disrepute.”
On social media, many Neyland residents have expressed outrage over the email’s contents, with some suggesting that all councillors should resign to allow for fresh elections. Lye noted that at the 2022 elections, only four councillors (himself included) were elected unopposed, while the remainder were appointed through co-option.
SILENCE FROM KEY COUNCILLORS
Lye also highlighted the notable silence from councillors Peter Hay, Mike Harry, Ash Phelan, and Ellen Phelan amid the ongoing crisis. However, he was quick to defend them against accusations of complicity, stating: “They have always fought for what is good for the town and the council. Because they were part of the complaints made to the Ombudsman, they have been effectively silenced from speaking out.”
The former mayor suggested that these councillors had been “treated appallingly” by others on the council, further deepening the divisions within Neyland’s leadership.
CALLS FOR REFORM AND ACCOUNTABILITY
As investigations continue, many are questioning whether Neyland Town Council is capable of governing effectively in its current state. Lye emphasized that he hopes the Ombudsman’s report will “finally bring accountability” to a council he believes has been failing for years.
“If the content of Devauden’s email is any indication of the wider culture within the council, then the people of Neyland, Pembrokeshire, and even Wales will be shocked when the Ombudsman’s findings are finally released.”
Lye lamented that, unlike health boards or county councils, there is no mechanism to place dysfunctional town or community councils under special measures. He stated that Neyland’s situation would likely justify such an intervention if it were possible.
POLICE INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY
While the matter is now in the hands of the police, it remains to be seen whether any legal action will follow. Under the Malicious Communications Act 2003, it is a criminal offence to send electronic communications that are “grossly offensive, indecent, threatening, or designed to cause distress.”
Lye has urged authorities to seize Cllr Devauden’s electronic devices to examine all communications between councillors over the past two years, arguing that the public would be shocked by what has been said behind closed doors.
“I am against evil and bullying, so I had to go to the police to report this possible crime. Neyland deserves better, and I want it to get back to doing what it should be doing – where everyone works together for the good of the town.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
With the Ombudsman’s report expected in the near future, and the police investigation now officially logged, Neyland Town Council faces intense scrutiny. Calls for Cllr Devauden to resign are growing louder, while broader questions remain over whether Neyland’s governance structure can withstand the deep divisions that have plagued it for years.
For now, Neyland residents are left waiting to see what action—if any—will be taken to restore faith in their council.
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