Congratulations Ben Lake, a step forward to an independent Wales!

I have been updating https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etholaethau_seneddol_Cymru‘s pages on the constituencies of Wales by adding the 2017 General election results. 

Given the comments by media pundits and pissed off Plaid supporters on social media I have been pleasantly surprised by how well Plaid Cymru did in a Presidential election where the others were squeezed dry by the May v Corbyn narrative. 

Plaid only lost 2% of its vote share, kept all its held seats (ok, by the skin of if its teeth in Arfon) and gained another seat. Not bad in the circumstances!

In percentage terms, gaining 1 extra MP, made Plaid the biggest winner in Great Britain in terms of percentage increase of a numbers of a party's MPs.

Ok I’m pissed off too. I wanted Plaid to win between 21 & 40 seats and we fell short. Until we can win a minimum of 21 seats Independence is a pipe dream. But so-called supporters of the Welsh National Cause dismissing Plaid holding on and increasing its representation in the very polarising 2017 General Election are not helping the National Cause.

If we want to win we must celebrate every step on the way. Congratulations Ben Lake, a step forward to an independent Wales!

Family Matters

According to yesterday's Western Mail The Liberal Democrats are accusing Plaid Cymru of dirty tactics in their campaign to win a Ceredigion council by-election tomorrow. Plaid, of course, deny the accusation vehemently.

I know that Plaid can play dirty, so I couldn't defend the party against the allegation. But the Welsh National Champions of Dirty Campaigning are, without doubt, Lib Dem Barcharting FC. Sounds like the Pot calling the Kettle Peter to me!

However, the interesting point about the spat is that Plaid Cymru candidate, Aled Davies, accused of foul play by the Lib Dems, is the brother of Lib Dem council leader Ceredig Davies.

There is nothing like a bit of brotherly love to bring the best of family values into an election campaign!

Interesting Goings on in Ceredigion

Earlier this month independents won 12 seats on Ceredigion council, Plaid gained 19 seats. The Lib Dems gained 10 and Labour managed to elect just one councillor.

Despite having just 10 councillors to Plaid's 19 the Lib Dems lead the council in coalition with the Labour man and most of the independents. The ruling group has 22 members with the opposition being made up of Plaid and one independent has 20 members.

Over the weekend one of the Liberal Democrat councilors, Eric Giffith, has resigned after being arrested for a sexual offence.

Plaid came second in Mr Griffiths' ward of Aberystwyth Central on May 1st. If they can gain this seat in a by-election then both leading group and opposition would have 21 seats each!