Plaid ends up in control of council after defection from Labour
A WELSH council has an overall Plaid Cymru majority for the first time ever after a councillor said he was “totally exasperated” with the Labour Party.
Councillor Colin Evans was a Labour member for more than 30 years, and was an executive board member at Carmarthenshire Council when the party formerly led the authority up until 2015.
Now, Cllr Evans says he finds himself “increasingly at odds with the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn”.
“It is a regretfully sad fact that I no longer recognise the party that I joined over 30 years ago,” said Mr Evans. “It is true to say that I am totally exasperated with the Labour Party’s current direction of travel, which is, of course, the Momentum group.
“I have also, over the past few years found myself increasingly at odds with the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, both in terms of his nebulous stance on Brexit as well as other issues. I feel that it is not so much a case of me leaving the Labour Party, rather that the Labour Party has left me.
“I feel therefore that I have more in common with the policies, aims and objectives of Plaid Cymru in improving the quality of life of the residents of Carmarthenshire and the Amman Valley than those of my former party.”
Mr Evans’ move means that Plaid Cymru now holds 38 out of 74 seats on Carmarthenshire Council, which it currently runs in a coalition with independents.
Council leader Emlyn Dole said: “I’m delighted that such an experienced and highly respected councillor has decided to join us. Colin is a prudent and politically intelligent person, so his decision is highly significant and carries considerable clout. It is a recognition of this council’s ambitious and successful agenda in fields such as housing, leisure and regeneration, and our fight to defend services such as education and social care in the face of year-on-year cutbacks from central government.
“Colin Evans’ move may also be viewed in the context of a wider national movement, with clear signs that Plaid Cymru’s agenda is becoming increasingly attractive.”
MP Jonathan Edwards, who represents Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said: “I am delighted to welcome Colin, an experienced and astute councillor to the Plaid Cymru team.”
Carmarthenshire Labour leader Rob James said: “Plaid Cymru have run Carmarthenshire Council into the ground with ongoing police investigations, pupils being thrown off school buses and savage cuts to local services. We will not be distracted in highlighting the failures and we look forward to the upcoming election to air those views.”