LOCAL RESIDENTS will have the opportunity to meet the man whose recent by-election victory in Caerphilly sent a shockwave through UK politics.
Member of the Senedd, Lindsey Whittle, 72, affectionately known as Mr Caerphilly, overturned a century of Labour dominance in his home constituency to win the seat for Plaid Cymru.
Now, he’s coming to Denbighshire for a special event in which he’ll tell the story of his political life as well as the electoral success that saw him take 47% of the vote, pushing the Reform candidate Llyr Powell into second place on 36%, while Labour’s Richard Tunnicliffe trailed in third with 11%.
The free event, An Evening with Lindsey Whittle, will take place on Friday, February 20 at the Old Courthouse in Ruthin at 7:30 pm.
The format will be a discussion between North Wales MS Llyr Gruffydd and his new parliamentary colleague in the Senedd, with Lindsey talking about his early life and political activism, and his 50 years as a councillor on Caerphilly County Borough Council.
He’ll also share his insights on how he and his dedicated team of Plaid Cymru activists were able to beat Nigel Farage’s Reform despite being vastly outgunned in terms of financial resources, as well as his political vision for Wales. The second half of the evening will be a question-and-answer session.
Event organiser Plaid Cymru activist Geraint Thomas said: “Lindsey is the quintessential Welsh community champion.
“His by-election campaign in Caerphilly is an inspiration because it’s proof that the forces of hate can be overcome with a combination of hard work and activism that powers a vision based on unity, hope, and optimism for the future.
“As organisers, we’re hugely excited to welcome him to Denbighshire and are looking forward to a lively and interesting evening filled with warmth and good cheer.
“It’s becoming clearer every day that there’s an enormous appetite for change in Wales, and opinion polls are showing us that the upcoming Senedd election will be a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform.
“People are getting increasingly sick of the Westminster parties taking Wales for granted, and Lindsey’s stunning result saw people decisively reject division and empty promises in favour of a positive vision for Wales.”
