Following the Senedd elections, a long-standing Tenby county councillor representing Plaid Cymru on Pembrokeshire County Council has urged those intending on standing during the local elections next year, to pin their ‘colours to the mast’ - calling for candidates to openly declare their political affiliations.

County councillor for Tenby’s North ward, Cllr Michael Williams has had a dig at those who sit on the Local Authority under the banner of ‘Independent’ members.

“After 63 years of campaigning for Plaid Cymru, what a change, after so many difficult years, we now witness a possible new dawn, and a chance to build a new kind of politics,” he stated.

“With County Council elections within twelve months, I hope to see a large number of local Plaid Cymru candidates joining me in standing for election.

“I hope to see local people with deep roots in our community, who have a deep understanding of our needs offering themselves for election as Plaid candidates.

“It must be time to see through the veil which the so-called independents cover themselves with to cover their political affiliations, this in my opinion is fraudulent.

“I believe that honesty means openly stating your political affiliations, if you enter the political arena even if it does cost you a certain number of votes.

“To those that did support Plaid Cymru, I thank you, even if you didn't, as a Plaid Cymru Councillor my door as it always has been is always open, I don't take days off as some appear to need to do so,” added Cllr Williams, who is only one of three Plaid members on Pembrokeshire Council, along with Cllr Rhys Sinnett who reprsents Milford West, and the recently elected Billy Shaw who won a by-election for Fishguard North East.

The six Senedd members for the new Ceredigion Penfro ward, which saw three Plaid seats, two Reform and one Welsh Conservatives gained, are: Elin Jones, Kerry Ferguson, and Anna Nicholl (Plaid Cymru); Susan Claire Archibald and Paul Marr (Reform); and Welsh Conservatives Paul Windsor Davies.

Independents hold a dominant, albeit fragmented, position on Pembrokeshire County Council, holding 33 of 60 seats after the 2022 election.

With Reform’s success in the Sir Gaerfyrddin constituency, taking 23,003 of the votes, behind Plaid with 31,943 votes, the only Reform representative on Pembrokeshire County Council, Cllr Scott Thorley has also urged those thinking of standing in the local elections next year, to show their political affiliation.

Reform UK gained its first county council seat in Pembrokeshire following a seven-way battle in March for a ward made vacant following the death of veteran councillor Mike Stoddart.

Thorley was elected as the County Councillor for Milford Hakin in the County Council by-election.

“So Senedd elections are done. The run up to next year’s council elections begin,” stated Cllr Thorley on social media, in the search for local candidates to represent his party

“If you want to make a difference to your community please apply. Any questions, don’t be afraid to drop me a message.”