News
Pembrokeshire Alliance wants a coalition, but leader should go
AT A SPECIALLY convened meeting of its governing Executive, the Pembrokeshire Alliance last night rejected Entering into any negotiations which would lead to a coalition with the current governing IPG led by Cllr Jamie Adams. The meeting was called after discussions last week between Cllr Adams and Pembrokeshire Alliance Leader, Cllr Bob Kilmister.
News
Reform reveals west Wales candidates for Senedd battle
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
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
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.
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Flashbang
October 10, 2014 at 10:56 am
Sorry Bob but we saw your naked grab for the money last week so I for one still don\’t trust you or your unhinged mate Nutting.
Tomos
October 11, 2014 at 12:19 am
Flashbang – is that you Bryn?
must be, slating off councillors, complaining other ppl are concerned with money
Flashbang
October 11, 2014 at 9:13 am
I’m definitely not that clown BPJ, if I was I would have cleaned out the corrupt and incompetent years ago instead of helping them.
I’m just a humble Pembrokeshire boy who would like to see the corrupt jailed and the county governed by an honest bunch.
kizzy J
October 11, 2014 at 11:11 am
Well I am not Bryn. I am a disabled woman living in Pembrokeshire and brought up here. I don’t trust Bob either. I attended the second meeting of the PA’group’ something I do not do often is leave my house. It was blatant from before we walked in the door and was duped into giving our detail in order to attend the ‘open’ meeting or I could not go in and was charged £1 for the venue. I was assured that this was only for safety to know who was in the building ect and would not be put on any data base or mailing list or email list ect ect. During the meeting we then were told what that info was for was we had been singed up as paid up member of the ‘party’ and the £1 was my membership fee…. !!!! That was my first impression and that the Councillors had it all sown up. I had my name removed as a Member of the Pembrokeshire Alliance that night and was treated with disdain for even pointing out that they should have informed me I was Joining a Political Party. I had no manifestation to contract and was duped into it. Bob and his party lost all credibility last week when he had his secret “negotiations” with Jamie Adams. announcing it after the event is not democracy. More so when on their page the people of Pembrokeshire asked questions they were abused and dismissed by Jonathan Nutting and told “YOU ARE WORNG” ect. Several of us. The women were told they were venting and they did not understand. When support for the questions and opinions began to grow Jonathan’s behavior became more bizarre. After 27 people voting against his discriminatory bullying and condescending posts on comments, that did not answer one question, what Bob did was rip down all our, the people of Pembrokeshires questions and opinions, took away our right to reply, removed us from the page and then started another conversation about us without any of us being able to see. Bob Kilminster was making implications that we were IPG on the page to oppose then and that we had hijacked the page on purpose. Jonathan Nutting called me by name saying I Bob was sick of me “giving him a kickin” but I had no right to reply, why? I can assure you I have never Kicked Bob Kilminster and that is a false accusation by Jonathan Nutting. If he meant a verbal “kicking” then why was my and others question and opinions seen as an attack by a Party who say they are here to listen. As one of the others abused by Nutting that night said what is the pint of giving you opinion and getting involved when as soon as you speak on page you are told your opinion is “WRONG”. I was one of those people and luckily other people sent me screen shots of what they were saying about me, as they had stated we should have a right of reply and freedom of speech to voice our opinions and not be slated and have accusations thrown against our character when we had just been removed and all our posts removed. That person said that they were then also removed and their comments removed! Isn’t that censorship? I am not IPG I am just a Pembrokeshire woman voicing her opinion about Bob Kilminsters disgraceful behavior “negotiating” with Jamie in secret. That night their President and Secretary resigned because she was never been kept in the loop and the councilors made all the decisions without any consultation or even informing her from the start.I do not know how all the other people that were treated like myself feel, a few I do as we have talked. However I feel that calling me a IPG member who came on the page to deliberately cause trouble is deformation of my character and besmirching of my good name, done deliberately behind my back immediately after I had been removed. What right has Bob Kilminster got to tarnish my name by implication. He has no evidence because there is no evidence. For 20 years I have barley left my house and the Pembrokeshire Alliance is the first thing I had attended for over a decade. I have never attended IPG meetings nor have I ever had any communication with the IPG or Jamie Adams but I was not allowed a right to reply. That is not democracy that is bullying. 27 people upset by Jonathan Nutting and he is still on the page stating he will answer no more questions as he is misunderstood and someone more capable will do it form now on. No Mr Nutting your not misunderstood your patronizing, condescending and dismissive and the people are telling you that you are just not listening and neither is Bob if he is removing us and keeping you there after so many complaints.I have been asking for a copy of the Pembrokeshire Alliances complaints procedure and the name of the regulator since June this year and they are just ignoring my requests and denying me that right. How do I have my right to reply to these implications. I have asked the President and Bob Kilminster himself. Hayley Wood assured me she had sent them to all the councilors, I have asked for it over 20 times now and have not one reply from anyone. I have asked Bob and he is ignoring me. Why can I not take this through a formal complaints procedure when I have been asking for over 4 months? Where is the Openness, Transparency, Integrity in that stance Bob? I had great hopes for a alliance group in Pembrokeshire to speak up for our concerns and need. The Pembrokeshire Alliance in my opinion was corrupted when the councilors voted themselves elite and turned it into a Party and began Press Ganging members and feathering their nests. Now they are sticking with the IPG there will be little confidence in them as all the comments that have been ripped down disagreed with it and only sportive comments left… you know like they do in china and the like….. !I think the PA has let us the People of Pembrokeshire down badly ….
kizzy J
October 11, 2014 at 11:23 am
Here here FlashBang .. I am wondering how long my comment will be allowed to stay up lol ….
kizzy J
October 11, 2014 at 11:35 am
here here Flashbang
michael williams
October 11, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Kilmister squirming. Not an edifying sight. He has just seen his Deputy Leaders salary drifting away,poor dab. So much for principles and democracy. The Alliance was never a serious option, with a seriously flawed leader, who, as soon as money became available ditched his so called principles.
Tomos
October 12, 2014 at 9:44 am
Oh dear, already infighting and Jamie and BPJ still in power, still being paid loads of money – couldn’t we just fight them first to ensure they leave and then start fighting amongst ourselves?
Jonathan nutting
October 13, 2014 at 10:18 am
Jilly J did they make an error in spelling, changing your comment into kizzy j ?
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