Row over Bolton home of new chairwoman of Welsh Labour

THE new chairwoman of Welsh Labour lives in Bolton in the north of England, we can reveal.

Margaret Thomas, who has been the Wales regional secretary of the trade union Unison for the past six years, continues to live in the Greater Manchester town, where she is a magistrate.

She took over as chair of Welsh Labour at the party conference in Llandudno last weekend, and will oversee discussions at Labour’s Welsh Executive Committee on whether there should be a change to current arrangements in the way Carwyn Jones’ successor is elected.

Plaid Cymru has long been sceptical of the term “Welsh Labour”, pointing out that it has no legal significance and is merely a brand for campaigning purposes. Reacting to the fact that Ms Thomas lives in Bolton, Plaid AM Adam Price said: “This appointment blows apart the myth of ‘Welsh Labour’.

“However, it comes as no surprise from a Labour Party whose head office in London is out of sight and out of touch with Wales. If our country is to realise its potential, it needs a government at the helm which understands and cares for the best interests of its people and communities. The branch office of a Westminster party cannot and never will do this.”

Reacting to Mr Price’s comments, a spokesman for Welsh Labour said: “Since the Assembly was born, Welsh voters have responded positively to Welsh Labour’s progressive, outward-looking, and distinctly Welsh approach, and have put their trust in Welsh Labour to deliver for our communities.

“In stark contrast, Plaid Cymru’s offer of divisive nationalism and narrow, inward looking politics has been repeatedly rejected by the people of Wales – most recently and comprehensively at last year’s General Election.”

But concern about the fact that Ms Thomas lives outside Wales was expressed from within Labour by Jeff Jones, the former leader of Bridgend council who is now a political consultant and commentator.

He said: “This is absurd and makes the party look stupid. How can you have a chair of Welsh Labour who lives in Bolton? When I mention it to people in my local pub, I know people will burst out laughing.

“The party goes on about its commitment to devolution and the existence of a distinctively Welsh agenda – yet allows a situation where someone living in Bolton becomes chair. It’s like having a chair of the London Labour Party who lives in Aberystwyth.”

Unison is the biggest trade union in Wales, with more than 100,000 members working in public services and the private care sector. A number of Unison members have expressed concern that Ms Thomas does not live in Wales.

One said: “It would seem appropriate for a trade union leader representing more than 100,000 Welsh workers to live in Wales. People can’t understand why she doesn’t. Sometimes she operates from the Colwyn Bay office, which is much nearer her home than Cardiff, where the union’s headquarters in Wales is.

“The union is spending a lot of money on her expenses, including hotel stays in Cardiff costing thousands of pounds a year.”

A Unison spokesman said: “Unison has three offices in Wales, and the regional secretary needs to travel around the country and the UK supporting members and branches, and meeting Welsh Government officials.

“Expenses are reimbursed in accordance with HM Revenue & Customs rates.”

Neither the union, nor Ms Thomas herself, offered any explanation as to why she has not moved to Wales.