Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Dafydd Llywelyn (Plaid Cymru) has been elected Dyfed Powys Police & Crime Commissioner. The results from across the region are as follows: First preference: CHURCH, Richard Wilfred – Welsh Liberal Democrats: 20,725 DAVIES, William Edmund Vincent John – Independent: 11,561 LLYWELYN, Dafydd – Plaid Cymru: 52,469 MADGE, Kevin – Welsh Labour: 34,799 PARKINSON, Desmond Cecil – UKIP Wales: 20,870 SALMON, Christopher Tangye Robert – Welsh Conservative Party: 47,093 Second preference: LLYWELYN, Dafydd – Plaid Cymru: 22,689 SALMON, Christopher Tangye Robert – Welsh Conservative Party: 12,209 Total votes: LLYWELYN, Dafydd – Plaid Cymru: 75,158 SALMON, Christopher Tangye Robert – Welsh Conservative Party: 59,302 Results from: Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, Llanelli, Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire, Preseli Pembrokeshire, Brecon & Radnorshire, Montgomeryshire, and Ceredigion The provisional turnout was 51.5%.

Penny Edwards has been elected the new Carmarthenshire County Councillor for the Hengoed ward in Llanelli. A by-election was held yesterday following the death of former councillor George Edwards. The turnout was 54% Welsh Labour candidate Mrs Edwards took the county seat for Hengoed with a narrow victory in the by-election. As the count reached an end, the number of votes between Mrs Edwards and Plaid Cymru candidate Martin Davies were so tight, a second check was conducted before results were announced. Mrs Edwards received 335 votes, pipping Mr Davies's total of 313 votes. Ukip candidate Bramwell Gordon Richards finished in third place, receiving 152 votes. Wynford Samuel of People First received 80 votes, Independent Edward Skinner received 76 votes, and Conservative Stephen Davies received 54 votes. On her election to the county council seat, Mrs Edwards said: "All I can say is thank you, all of you, you have been wonderful - I just can't say thank you enough. "I...

Plaid Cymru issued the following press release on Friday -  Plaid Cymru politicians Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM and Jonathan Edwards MP have contacted the Wales Audit Office expressing their concern that Carmarthenshire County Council cannot properly account for how public money is spent. In their letter to the Auditor General for Wales, the Party of Wales duo point out conflicting information they have seen from the council as to how much the Chief Executive was paid for duties as the Returning Officer during last year’s local council elections. Less than a month ago Mr Thomas and Mr Edwards exposed that Carmarthenshire Council’s Chief Executive, Mark James received a £20,000 cash advance for election activities a minimum of five week before the election actually took place. Following this revelation, the Carmarthenshire politicians submitted Freedom of Information requests to all Welsh Councils to find out when council’s paid their Returning Officer. In response, not only did Carmar...

Council Chief gets £20,000 cash advance Carmarthenshire County Council’s Chief Executive received a £20,000 cash advance last year Plaid Cymru has revealed. Some local authority Chief Executives are paid additional fees and expenses for activities they undertake as a Returning Officer for elections. For local elections (county council and community councils) fees are paid to the Returning Officer by the respective councils. The number of electoral wards contested is a factor which determines the amount of fees paid. Information obtained by Carmarthenshire MP Jonathan Edwards and AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas shows that the £190,000-a-year Chief Executive was paid an additional £20,000 for election activities a minimum of 5 weeks before the election took place, in a different financial year and before the number of candidates was even known.

The Institute of Welsh Politics is delighted to welcome Leanne Wood AM, Leader of Plaid Cymru, to deliver its 13th Annual Lecture today, Monday 12th November 2012. The lecture is entitled ‘Cymru ar ei Hennill / A Winning Wales’ and takes place at 7.00 pm in the Main Hall of the Department of International Politics on the Penglais Campus of Aberystwyth University. Leanne Wood was born in the Rhondda where she continues to live today. She was educated at Tonypandy Comprehensive School, the University of Glamorgan and Cardiff University. Before her election to the National Assembly in 2003, Leanne worked as a professional tutor and lectured in social policy at Cardiff University. She also worked as a probation officer and a support worker for Cwm Cynon Women's Aid during 2001 and 2002. She remains involved with Cwm Cynon Women’s Aid through her role as chair of their Board of Trustees. She has been heavily involved in the trade union movement and was, until recently, the chair of t...

Plaid Cymru’s AM and MP are trying to stop a £60million investment with the creation of around 1,200 jobs in the Tywi and Gwendraeth Valleys, a Carmarthenshire Council press release claims. MP Jonathan Edwards and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM have asked for the Sainsbury’s planning applications to be called in a move which, it is claimed, now jeopardises developments which mean major investment in Carmarthenshire. Sainsbury's plans to open two new stores – one at Llandeilo and one at Cross Hands, creating up to 600 new jobs. There would also be several hundred jobs created or supported through construction. At Cross Hands, the investment includes the remediation of a derelict and contaminated site providing land for housing, including affordable homes, a new doctor’s surgery, health centre and care home. It will also include significant improvements to Maes yr Yrfa School to drive forward Carmarthenshire County Council’s investment in Welsh medium education in the Gwendraeth Valley. ...

Plaid Cymru's 'Magnificent Seven' posed for a photocall outside Carmarthen's Shire Hall today. The seven took the Carmarthen seats and the Llangunnor seat on Carmarthenshire County Council. They are pictured posing for Carmarthen Journal photographer Carolyn Evans. To be fair to the potential future Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Peter Hughes Griffiths on the left, you can't be critical of his choice of footwear; he was helping out at the Carmarthen Mayor's Fun Run races this morning!

BBC News - Plaid Cymru leadership: Rhodri Glyn Thomas backs Elin Jones Plaid Cymru AM and former heritage minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas says he is backing Elin Jones in the party's leadership contest. Mr Thomas, the transport spokesman and AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said he had confidence she could lead a team capable of rebuilding the party. He also praised Leanne Wood, another of the three leadership candidates, saying he had been "excited and inspired" by her campaign.

AM backs Wood's bid for Plaid leadership | This is South Wales A Neath-based AM is one of two Assembly Members to lend her support to Leanne Wood's bid for the Plaid leadership. South Wales West AM Bethan Jenkins and Lindsay Whittle, AM for South Wales East, have voiced their public support today for her challenge. The AMs join Jonathan Edwards, Plaid Cymru MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, in underlining their support for Ms Wood to take over the running of the party.

Severn Bridge toll 'tax' fury | This is South Wales The new year increase in tolls on the Severn Bridge has been condemned as a "direct tax" on investment in Wales. It now costs £6 for cars, £12.10 for vans and a whopping £18.10 for lorries to use the vital motorway link following the annual January hike. Plaid MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, Jonathan Edwards, said the latest increase in Severn tolls was a barrier to investment.

Plaid tables plan for Wales-only consumer advice body - Wales News - News - WalesOnline Plaid Cymru has launched a bid to transfer powers over consumer rights to the Welsh Government. The move comes in the wake of proposals for the work of Consumer Focus Wales to be taken over by Citizens Advice. Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards has tabled amendments to the Public Bodies Bill which would give ministers in Cardiff Bay powers to legislate in this field.

WalesOnline - News - Wales News - Price to aim for place on regional Plaid list No surprise in this.

I'm not taking a view on the politics. Just think this is good value for seeing Paxman squirm!

WalesOnline - News - Wales News - Ieuan’s the top dog now says Plaid MP candidate Wonder how many ripples there'll be from this one?