PLAID CYMRU have won half of the seats in the new Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr constituency in this year’s Senedd elections.
Reform UK picked up two of their own and Labour picked up the final seat with Vikki Howells being re-elected having previously represented the Cynon Valley.
It means the six Members of the Senedd for the new constituency will be Heledd Fychan of Plaid Cymru, who previously represented South Wales Central, Jason O’Connell of Reform, Lis McLean of Plaid Cymru, David Hughes of Reform, Sara Crowley of Plaid Cymru, and Vikki Howells of Labour.
In terms of votes Plaid Cymru got the most votes with 28,687 followed by Reform UK on 22,217 and Labour on 9,344.
The Conservatives received 4,339 votes, the Greens got 3,466, and independent Beth Winter got 2,297 votes.
The Liberal Democrats won 1,393 votes, the Heritage Party received 431, and Gwlad got 202.
Independent Dai Hedley Williams received 148 votes and fellow independent Joseph Anthony Biddulph received 104 votes.
The turnout in the constituency was 47.36% with 72,847 votes cast out of an electorate of 153,815 while the number of rejected ballots was 219.
Sara Crowley of Plaid Cymru said: “I’m feeling lost for words, totally shocked.
“I came into politics from a career, not from a political background— but it’s about time that politics reflects the people of Cymru”
Ms Crowley credited winning the third seat to the hard work during the campaign. “We never gave up, we never stopped knocking doors,” she said.
“I’d always had a secret interest in politics but it was a quiet interest because people like me never felt represented in places of power growing up.”
She said: “I grew up thinking I wasn’t clever enough but it turns out learning and caring about people is part of the process. In fact it’s the biggest part. This why I stood.
“Representation matters and I hope people across the whole area can see you are maybe slightly more represented today.
“I stand with you and we’ll stand together. We stand with our communities. Our wonderful communities. From Penderyn to Penrhiwceiber to Penydarren to the Pen top of Pontypridd and everywhere in between.”
David Hughes of Reform UK thanked everyone for their work at the count and his team for all the relentless work they’d done.
He also said: “But most of all I want to thank God because I’m a believer. I’m a Christian and I believe in Christian values.
“But the reason I got into politics was because our young people have lost hope.”
Vikki Howells of Labour said: “There is no doubt this is a disappointing day for Welsh Labour across Wales.
“The electorate has spoken and as a party we will understand, take stock, listen, and rebuild.
“I’m proud of Welsh Labour’s record of delivery over 27 years of devolution and particularly local achievements that I have helped to deliver.”
She mentioned the Heads of the Valleys road, the cross Valley link, the South Wales Metro, and brand new 21st-century schools and colleges and upgrades to the Prince Charles Hospital and Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
She paid tribute to Eluned Morgan for her unswerving loyalty to Wales and her strong leadership.
She said Labour won’t shy away from holding the new government to account on the promises they have made.
