In this week's Denbighshire Free Press, councillor Huw Williams makes the front page. He was returned unopposed as Conservative county councillor for Llanbedr but that's not why he's on page 1. Huw Williams has now defected and has become an independent. Says Williams, "I'm fed up with the Tories".
He cites local Conservatives who voted on Denbighshire's cabinet to close schools (including that in his own electoral division) and Welsh Conservatives in Caerdydd being out of touch with the north. Informed sources suggest that the real reason for his leaving the Conservatives, however, might be Williams not being nominated for the Conservative candidacy for Westminster in the adjacent Delyn constituency. He fought Delyn for the Conservatives in the Welsh assembly elections of 2016, coming second but with an eight per cent reduction in the Conservative vote. For Westminster, Delyn Conservatives have again chosen veteran Matt Wright.
The most interesting aspect of this "amicable" move from Conservative to independent, though, was Williams's earlier comments at the end of March 2017, when county council hopeful Geraint Woolford disowned the Conservatives to become an independent. Williams was critical. At that time, said Williams,
In common with a large number of local newspapers, the previous week's Free Press had a Conservative paid-for wrap-around four-page advertisement for Theresa May and the Conservative party.
The most interesting aspect of this "amicable" move from Conservative to independent, though, was Williams's earlier comments at the end of March 2017, when county council hopeful Geraint Woolford disowned the Conservatives to become an independent. Williams was critical. At that time, said Williams,
"There is no such thing as an independent in politics. Independents only run without a party label because they think they won’t win if people know their true politics. They all have politics...You cannot just dip in and out when the going gets tough"Williams's move means the Conservatives have 15 rather than 16 seats on the council. They're still the largest party, over Labour's 13 and Plaid's nine. Independents are now nine with the possibility that sole Liberal Democrat Bobby Feeley will again vote with them. In 2012, the Conservatives had eight only, with independents 12 plus Feeley. Labour had the most, at 19.
In common with a large number of local newspapers, the previous week's Free Press had a Conservative paid-for wrap-around four-page advertisement for Theresa May and the Conservative party.