Wales Says "No place for Party Politics in Local Government"

Betsan Powys' Blog on BBC Wales Website gives the (near) final figures on the Welsh Local Government elections, see it here; indeed it does show that The Labour Party have had a "good kicking"

Independents gained 348 seats, 5 more in total than Labour in Wales. Add on small parties, an extra 26, and say 50% of the other parties, for those that vote for other parties as a way of getting or keeping labour out. That makes an extra 53, total 427, as opposed to labours 343 votes. That is a majority of at least 24% of the seats in this election were chosen by people who don't want either a Labour administrations or the long term one party system to continue.

Ousted labour councillors may well blame Gordon Browne and the demise of the 10p tax band but that can only partly compensate for the "vote for anything Labour" mentality of many Welsh people. No, and as long as the electorate remember the arrogance of any long term labour administration I sincerely hope that, until they put up as independents, representing the people, not the party, those councillors are out and they will stay out. Let's hope they see sense, because some of them would make good councillors.

Keep an eye on Betsan Powys' Blog here