The upcoming by-election in Trevethin and Penygarn sees five candidates vying for a council seat after a Labour member’s resignation
Torfaen: So, there’s a big by-election coming up in Trevethin and Penygarn. Five candidates are in the running to fill a spot on the council after a Labour member stepped down.
The Reform Party is really hoping to snag its first council seat in Wales. They’re up against the Green Party, which is also looking to make its mark. Labour is defending the seat that Sue Malson left when she resigned last November.
Two independent candidates are also in the mix for the February 13 vote. Even though Labour has a solid majority, this election is heating up. Reform is keen to capitalize on some strong polling trends they’ve been seeing.
They’ve picked Stuart Keyte, a former army major, as their candidate. Labour’s candidate, Toniann Phillips, is a local community center trustee and treasurer. Labour’s been out there campaigning hard, with support from their MP and some big names.
Reform has been rallying supporters from all over Gwent, sharing photos of their campaign efforts on social media. The Green Party’s candidate is Tony Clark, while the independents are Catherine Ann Howells and Louise Shepphard, both from Trevethin.
Back in the 2022 local elections, Labour won both seats in this ward by a good margin, so it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out. There’s also a by-election happening for the Pontypool Community Council, which will be a straight contest between Labour and Conservative candidates.
Mark your calendars for February 13! Voting runs from 7 am to 10 pm, and if you’re 16 or older, you can cast your vote. Just make sure you register by January 28!
