Labour may seek Plaid alliance to run council
A LABOUR group which lost control of the council in Carwyn Jones’ constituency may seek an alliance with Plaid Cymru.
Labour remains the largest party in Bridgend County Borough Council after the local elections on Thursday.
But with 26 seats – fewer than half of the total of 54 – the group needs support if it is to form another administration.
Plaid Cymru now has three members on the authority.
It is understood the group would not be interested in a formal coalition with Labour, but would consider support for an administration on a case-by-case basis.
Plaid, together with Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams, agreed a deal with Labour after the National Assembly election last year, allowing Labour to lead the Welsh Government.
But Plaid’s leader Leanne Wood was adamant the agreement was not a formal coalition and her AMs would challenge the ruling party.
Labour, which previously held 31 seats on Bridgend council, suffered a “bloody election.
Independent candidates in many guises and groups inflicted defeats in key areas but it was the Conservatives who came out of nowhere to cut Labour’s majority.
The party, which recently welcomed Prime Minister Theresa May to Brackla Community Centre in Bridgend, gained 10 seats to take them to a total of 11.
In Brackla, the Conservatives grabbed three out of four seats available in the Labour stronghold, unseating cabinet member Hailey Townsend.
She had acted as First Minister and Bridgend AM Carwyn Jones’ campaign co-ordinator for the National Assembly elections last year.
Plaid Cymru’s Tim Thomas took Ynysawdre from Labour, which also lost seats to the Conservatives in Newcastle and Penprysg wards.
In Maesteg, Ross Thomas – a former Labour councillor who is now an independent – retained his seat.
He said: “It’s a little bit more than a bloody nose for the Labour Party and certainly I have seen that people are not happy with what’s going on locally and nationally and it’s a little bit more than a wake-up call.” nose” in last Thursday’s