News

Pressure brought to bear on Bryn witness

Published

11 years ago

October 3, 2014

Tom Sinclair

County Hall

THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD can reveal that Peter Morgan has discovered that pressure has more than one face and comes in more than one form over recent weeks.

On Saturday morning (Sept 27), after we published an article on-line based in part on a phone call that took place on Friday evening (Sept 26), Peter Morgan was contacted by members of the IPPG leadership. In those calls, Cllr Morgan was berated over his comments expressing support of David Simpson and those telling how pressure had been applied to him regarding the appearance he was then still due to make before the committee investigating allegations against the council’s CEO Bryn Parry-Jones.

When we spoke to Peter Morgan on Friday he told us: “I don’t do pressure.”

A member of the ruling group on Pembrokeshire County Council, Peter experienced pressure back in February. Having walked out of a meeting of the full council because he believed he had expressed a public opinion prejudging the issue to be debated (the future of Bryn Parry Jones), Peter – and Keith Lewis – were ordered back into the meeting by Deputy Chief Executive Ben Pykett as nobody had followed the pair on their trek to the moral high ground, and the IPPG might have lost the vote.

Quite what Mr Pykett thought he was doing interfering in the political activities of the council and the actions of its members is anyone’s guess.

After a subsequent council meeting, Peter Morgan was one of two councillors summoned to the presence of Chief Executive Bryn Parry-Jones and berated about voting against his personal interest in a vote.

Last Thursday, Peter spoke with his friend David Simpson. He told David about phone calls he had received and pressure that had been applied to him by members of the council’s leadership about evidence he was due to give about that incident.

Cllr Simpson was appalled by what his friend told him. He decided to resign as a result of what he had heard about the actions of Cllr Rob Lewis is seeking to influence Peter’s appearance before the investigatory committee.

Thankfully, due to the fact the editor’s office was locked on Friday evening when our chief writer was working on the report of Cllr Simpson’s resignation from the Cabinet and IPPG, he had to phone Cllr Morgan from The Pembrokeshire Herald’s sales room. In common with virtually all telesales rooms, calls made on the sales system are recorded.

On Monday (Sept 29), the same writer bumped into Peter Morgan outside Committee Room 2.

In the presence of another councillor, Cllr Morgan told him of the reaction to our online article. Phone calls had taken place on Saturday morning and Cllr Morgan left little doubt as to what those phone calls had been like and who had made them.

And after that Peter Morgan gave his evidence to the investigatory committee.

We cannot know what was said in private, but we can report the reaction to it.

After Cllr Morgan had finished his evidence he left Committee Room 2 with his fellow councillor and witness Mark Edwards. Shortly afterwards they were followed out by their friend and colleague David Simpson.

As it does not relate to evidence that was heard in Committee Room 2, we can safely report that whatever Cllr Morgan had told the Committee had caused Cllr Simpson to “have a face like thunder.”

Councillor Simpson asked Peter Morgan about elements of his evidence that varied sharply both from what he had said at Councillor Simpson’s home the previous Thursday and what he had told our reporter the following evening.

Councillor Morgan referred to the pressure put on him by – amongst others – Council Leader Jamie Adams. Jamie had told Peter that what he had said could mean the end of the Independent Group’s control of the County Council.

While this exchange took place the committee was in recess, and Cllr Mike Stoddart, then a member of the committee happened upon the scene. David Simpson left to fetch Keith Lewis, the Committee Chair so he could tell the chair the truth about what had happened.

Cllr Lewis reconvened the meeting to hear afresh from Cllr Morgan, only to find that – as he had once done on the rugby pitch – he had given his markers the slip and made a run for it.

News

Reform reveals west Wales candidates for Senedd battle

Published

5 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Monkton councillor tops Pembrokeshire list as party confirms Carmarthenshire names and includes Haverfordwest councillor in unwinnable Swansea spot

REFORM UK has unveiled its full list of candidates for the 2026 Senedd election, setting out its challenge across west Wales including Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

The party has named Susan Claire Archibald, a sitting councillor for Monkton on Pembroke Town Council, as its lead candidate for the Ceredigion Preseli, Mid and South Pembrokeshire regional list.

Speaking to The Herald, Archibald said: “I am honoured to represent Reform UK and Wales.” She added that a fuller statement outlining her priorities would be released in due course.

The remaining candidates on the Pembrokeshire regional list are Paul Marr, a former prison officer, Michael Allen, Elisa Randall, Peter John and Bernard Holton.

Carmarthenshire candidates named

Reform has also confirmed its list for the Caerfyrddin and Llanelli region, with Gareth Beer placed first, followed by Carmelo Colasanto, Sarah Edwards, Christopher Brooke, Alan Cole and Michelle Beer.

The announcement forms part of a nationwide rollout of candidates as the party seeks to establish itself as a credible electoral force ahead of the 2026 vote.

Thorley listed in Swansea region

Among the names included elsewhere is Scott Thorley, a Haverfordwest-based councillor and the first Reform representative elected to Pembrokeshire County Council.

Thorley appears on the party’s list for the Gower and Swansea West region, where he is placed sixth.

Under the Senedd’s proportional representation system, candidates placed lower on regional lists are significantly less likely to be elected, meaning his position is widely viewed as a paper candidacy to complete the slate.

Election framing

Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas said the party was offering voters a stark political choice.

He said: “After a hundred years of failure, Labour are finished in Wales. The choice at this election is what comes next — common sense and a fresh start with Reform, or independence by stealth with Plaid Cymru.”

The Herald understands that further announcements, including candidate profiles and policy details, are expected in the coming weeks as the campaign begins to take shape.

Crime

Man bailed after serious assault in Fishguard town centre

Published

6 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a serious assault in Fishguard that has left a man in hospital.

The incident happened on Main Street at around 11:00pm on Saturday (Mar 21), when the victim was reportedly punched, sustaining head injuries. He remains in hospital receiving treatment.

A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm (GBH) and has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed-Powys Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have information that could assist the investigation, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference: 26*227686.

Information can be provided online via the Dyfed-Powys Police website, by emailing [email protected], by calling 101, or by sending a direct message on social media.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

News

Childcare funding boost announced in Wales

Published

6 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Hourly rate to rise as costs increase

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed an increase in the hourly rate paid to childcare providers under its Childcare Offer, following a review of funding levels.

The Minister for Children and Social Care, DAWN BOWDEN MS, announced that the rate will rise to £6.67 per hour from April 6, 2026. The increase of 4.18% comes after feedback from childcare providers and sector data gathered during 2025.

The Welsh Government said the change is designed to help providers cope with rising costs, including increases to the National Living Wage.

The Herald understands the review drew on responses from the Childcare Offer’s Annual Survey, as well as information from Care Inspectorate Wales’ Self-Assessment of Service Statement (SASS).

The move follows a policy shift announced last year to review the rate annually, rather than every three years, in a bid to make funding more responsive to pressures facing the sector.

As part of the update, the maximum charge for meals will also increase by 4.18%, which ministers say is intended to balance affordability for both providers and parents.

Dawn Boden said the Welsh Government remains committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of childcare services, adding that officials will continue working with the sector to explore further improvements.