RHONDDA CYNON TAF

PLAID Cymru’s leader in Rhondda Cynon Taf has lost her seat. Pauline Jarman, the candidate for the new Mountain Ash ward, had been an RCT councillor for 27 years but was edged out by Labour’s Wendy Treeby, while council leader Andrew Morgan retained his seat.

Ms Jarman was formerly the Plaid AM for South Wales Central between 1999 and 2003 and was also the leader of RCT council between 1999 and 2004. She is also a former Cynon Valley Borough councillor and Mid Glamorgan County councillor, and was the mayor of Cynon Valley between 1987 and 1988.

After losing her seat, she said that she had “loved every minute” of being a councillor”.

Ms Jarman and RCT Labour leader Mr Morgan were standing in the new Mountain Ash ward, which replaces the former Mountain Ash East, which Ms Jarman has represented, and Mountain Ash West, which Mr Morgan has represented. There have been changes in ward boundaries across Wales. Wendy Treeby, who has also represented Mountain Ash West, and Mia Hollsing, of the Welsh Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, and Kurt Thomson, of the Conservatives, also stood in the seat.