Welsh Conservatives failed to win a single seat in the local council elections on Ynys Môn, despite fielding 35 candidates.

 

Plaid Cymru won control of Ynys Môn council, after working in a coalition with independents since the previous election. Plaid has now managed to win 21 of the 35 seats, crossing the threshold for a majority, which is 18 members, which was five more than they won in 2017.

The independents had a poor results day, losing six seats in 2022 and ending on 10. Labour gained one additional seat this time round to bring it to three, while the Lib Dems took the remaining seat.

Plaid also won 44 of the 69 seats on Gwynedd council, where they have governed since 1996.

Elsewhere the Conservatives lost control of their only council in Wales, after Labour became the biggest party in Monmouthshire.

In a punishing set of local elections for the Tories, the party lost about 400 council seats across the UK, losing control of Westminster and Wandsworth in London to Labour for the first time since the 1970s, and plunging to its worst results in Scotland for a decade.

‘Conservative Island’

Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie had hoped the elections, held on 5 May, would result in their first representation on the Isle of Anglesey County Council since 2008.

Prior to the local council elections Ms Crosbie had said: “Nearly 13,000 people on Anglesey voted for me in 2019 and I believe that this is a fundamentally Conservative island.

“One only has to look at the plethora of entrepreneurs on Anglesey to see that local people believe in hard work and creating opportunity – ethics which are the backbone of Conservatism.

“I have been working hard to bring jobs and investment here since I became Anglesey’s MP and I know that my constituents deserve so much more than they are getting at the moment.

“So many people have told me that they are looking forward to having Conservatives to vote for in the coming election and to seeing positive change in our Council as a result.

“We have a fantastic field of candidates representing the diversity of our constituents and I hope this means that we will see more women and younger councillors in place after these elections.”

Bethan Davies, Chair of Ynys Môn Conservatives, had said: “I am delighted we have such a quality team standing for Council this year.

“People across Anglesey are fed up with years of inertia, poor services and a lack of progress from Anglesey Council and we are offering an opportunity to change that.

“We are looking forward to seeing the people of Anglesey voicing their dissatisfaction with the current Council loud and clear this May.”

Plaid Cymru

Following the results, Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “After an incredible set of local election results for the Plaid Cymru : Ynys Môn – Anglesey team, a big thank you for all your support.

“Diolch hefyd i bawb fu’n rhan o drefniadau’r etholiad, ac i bawb wnaeth fentro i sefyll.

“Thanks also to everyone who helped run the election, and to all those who stood as candidates.”

Anglesey Council leader Llinos Medi added: “This day had only happened because of the support from the people of Ynys Môn, if they hadn’t have voted, we wouldn’t have 21 Plaid Cymru councillors.

“We had a lovely campaign, on the doorsteps it’s been so positive. Being able to have that conversation and that understanding of what people want and what we want to deliver. It’s made it a positive experience for all of us.”