In a dramatic political upset, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have seized a council seat from Labour in a closely-watched by-election in Cwmllynfell & Ystalyfera, Neath Port Talbot.
Former midwife and district nurse Susan Grounds emerged victorious for the Liberal Democrats, securing 34% of the vote in a contest that saw Plaid Cymru’s Brandon Havard finish a close second with 30%. Labour’s Heledd Owen and Reform UK’s Cameron Richards were left trailing, each garnering just 13% of the vote. An Independent candidate received 9%, while the Conservatives managed only 1%.
The by-election was prompted by the resignation of Labour councillor Cathy James. The result marks a significant breakthrough for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, giving them their first representative in the Swansea Valley and bringing their total number of councillors on Neath Port Talbot Council to three.
‘A fantastic victory’
Reacting to the result, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick, hailed the win as a major milestone for his party.
“This is a fantastic victory for the Welsh Liberal Democrats right in Labour’s heartlands. Whether it’s the cuts to the winter fuel allowance and disability benefits or the record-breaking NHS waiting lists in Wales, people are crying out for change and are fed up with stagnation and decline under Labour,” he said.
“The Liberal Democrats are winning across Wales again and are out here proving we can challenge the status quo.
“I look forward to working hand in hand with Susan as her MP to champion communities across Cwmllynfell & Ystalyfera and the entire Swansea Valley.”
The victory comes on the eve of the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ party conference and is likely to provide a morale boost as the party prepares for next year’s Senedd elections.
Party leader Jane Dodds MS welcomed the result, saying it demonstrated growing momentum for the Lib Dems across Wales.
“As we head into our party conference tomorrow, this win in Cwmllynfell & Ystalyfera shows there is nowhere across Wales that the Welsh Liberal Democrats can’t win as we head into next year’s Senedd elections,” she said.
“We’ve shown that the hype about ‘how well’ Reform is doing in our former mining and industrial towns is misplaced and in fact, people just want change and someone to listen to their concerns which have gone ignored for far too long.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to work hard across Wales to provide voters with that voice for positive change in our communities.”
‘Ready to get stuck in’
Following her win, Susan Grounds expressed gratitude to local voters and pledged to hit the ground running.
“I’d like to thank everyone from across the community who have placed their trust in me to represent them on the council,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to getting stuck in straight away and ensuring local residents’ voices are heard loud and clear by the Council and the issues raised with me in the campaign are tackled.”
The by-election result is likely to send ripples through Welsh politics, particularly as Labour seeks to shore up its traditional strongholds ahead of key elections next year. For the Liberal Democrats, the win signals a growing appetite for alternatives in communities long dominated by the two larger parties.
