Quotes from letter rather selective
I REFER to the letter published in last week’s Gazette from Councillors Davies, Edwards, John and Thomas, which selectively quotes from an article published in our Llynfi Labour Party newsletter.
Their letter is immature, and yet again demonstrates how, when they did not get their own way, they threw their toys out of the pram.
There is also reference to “An iron-fisted approach in the Labour Group” – which fails to mention the person in charge of discipline in the Labour Group was the chief whip – who was one of these ex-Labour councillors.
The article is included in full in this letter: “The Llynfi Valley Labour Party regrets the decision of several local councillors to resign from the Labour Party. It is normal national Labour Party procedure to interview all sitting councillors before their selection as Labour candidates. Three local valley councillors including two from Maesteg failed the interview. The Labour Party has a fair and open appeals procedure and Llynfi Labour branch urged them all to appeal. Two chose not to appeal and fight their corner. The other local councillor did appeal, and was successful.
“Previous decisions by councillors to vote against the Labour Party, [are] of course regrettable, especially as the vote was on a simple administrative decision to the Welsh Government. At no point did the vote commit any communities to lose any money, nor indeed did it risk any regeneration to the Llynfi Valley. As a local Labour Party we would never do this, which is why it is so disappointing that councillors chose to vote against.
“There have been no deselections within Labour in the Llynfi Valley – only resignations. None of the other councillors who resigned were excluded from the panel of candidates. The decision of these sitting councillors not to appeal was their choice, the Labour Party played no part in their decision.
Chris Elmore MP and Huw Irranca- Davies AM said “As always your Labour team of Maesteg county borough and town councillors will be working hard for the community, continuing to put the town first. We will continue to work for further regeneration of Maesteg Town and the area, making it an even better place to live and work and to visit.” Councillor Mal Reeves Maesteg East