Latest news with #OwainClatworthy
Wales Online
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
Welsh county's youngest ever councillor with a past that doesn't define him
Welsh county's youngest ever councillor with a past that doesn't define him The Reform UK member was voted in at a by-election earlier this year Councillor Owain Clatworthy of Bridgend (Image: Lewis Smith ) A shock council by-election result has made a small piece of history in one part of south Wales with the area's youngest ever member being elected. Reform UK councillor Owain Clatworthy, aged just 20, was voted in as councillor for Bridgend County Borough in May of 2025, for the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr ward, following the resignation of former Labour councillor Mike Kearn. He clinched the win with a narrow margin of only 30 votes on the night, edging out the second placed Labour candidate Gary Chappell. His election came just weeks before the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, visited the nearby town of Port Talbot to kick-start the party's Senedd election campaign, claiming they expected to not only win seats, but to also win enough to govern Wales. The latest council vote now makes Owain the youngest ever member in the borough of Bridgend since it was formed in April 1996, where he says he is eager to represent residents of his local ward to the best of his ability. He also says that living in care for more than 10 years of his life proved that your past doesn't define your future. Article continues below Speaking with the Local Democracy Reporting Service in a recent interview, Cllr Clatworthy said: "I was born and raised in Kenfig Hill during my early childhood up until the age of six when I was moved in to social services, living all over in different foster placements as well as at a children's home in Porthcawl. "Just three years ago I was on Universal Credit living in a young persons' supported accommodation, trying to figure out where to get a food bank voucher from so I'm incredibly humbled and proud to be where I am now. "A lot of young people who go through the care system end up in cycles of being out of work or with drug and alcohol problems, so I really want to champion these issues and show what can be done. "Of course it's taken time, but I was able to find a job as a support worker, which is something I'm very passionate about, along with some volunteering work at the Porthcawl food-bank and that has led me to this point. "I was living a peaceful life about three months ago but then I was looking at the news and thinking I couldn't just stand back any more, and I could either moan and complain about things or go out and get involved. "I came in to politics because I want to make a change and serve members of the public in a way that makes a difference - not just to talk about it, but to actually take action. "I'm not a career politician with scripted answers, I'm just me and I think that's what people want. I'm sure some will stereotype me because I'm young but I've got life experience and I think we need more young people involved in politics to have a mix of new ideas with experience." Bridgend County Borough Council Civic Offices (Image: Bridgend County Borough Council ) Councillor Clatworthy has also been joined by other Reform Councillors across Wales in the months since his election, with a by-election win in Llanelli as well as in Merthyr where two independent councillors defected to the party. When it comes to Bridgend, Owain added that he is also optimistic the party could take more seats in the authority at the 2027 local council elections. He said: "As I'm on my own at the moment people know that I can't promise the world to do this or that, but I can be a voice for those who have felt ignored over the years and hold the council to account. "Local issues I heard on the doors focused on council tax increases as people feel they are paying more out but getting less in return, but mainly they want to know where their money is going. Article continues below "I'll be working on that from now until 2027 when the auditors will be shipped in to look at where the waste is and how we can better manage our money. Momentum is definitely on our side and I really believe we will win this council in 2027." For the latest Bridgend news sign up to our newsletter here.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigel Farage's Reform party wins by-election in Wales
Reform have another Welsh councillor after they won a council by-election in Wales for the second time. A by-election was held on Thursday (May 1) to fill a vacancy on Bridgend County Borough Council following the resignation of Labour councillor Mike Kearn. Newly-elected councillor Owain Clatworthy narrowly beat Labour by 30 votes to win the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr seat. Labour retain control of the council, but the win boosts Reform's representation on Welsh councils to eight. Councillor Owain Clatworthy is now the second Reform politician in Wales to have won an election. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here READ MORE: Nigel Farage's Reform party takes massive wins in English elections READ MORE: Today's rugby news as Welsh team appoint New Zealander coach and Dallaglio warns of Wales 'resentment' After his win, the new councillor said: "I'm honoured to have been elected as Councillor for Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr. Thank you to everyone who backed change. I'm here to listen, serve, and deliver for our community. Let's build a ward that works for everyone." Congratulations to Cllr Owain Clatworthy on being elected to Bridgend Council for Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr Ward! Wales needs Reform — Reform UK Wales (@RUKWales) May 1, 2025 He added: 'Winning this seat is only the beginning. We will stand candidates in every seat in Bridgend in 2027. I will work hard for every one living in this community. Reform UK listens to what people actually want and we will always put their priorities first. The work begins now.' He will join the two sitting Labour members for the ward – Jane Gebbie and Huw David. Reform won the seat by 30 votes in a six-way fight. It comes as Reform had some massive wins in English elections. Nigel Farage's party beat Labour by just six votes to win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. Reform UK now have five MPs in Westminster. The party is also on course for wins in the English local elections, winning its first mayoral election in Greater Lincolnshire with candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyns. Mr Farage claimed a "big moment" was taking place in politics after his party's wins. Read more on that here. In February, Reform won their first council by-election in Wales when councillor Stuart Kyle beat Labour by nearly 200 votes to fill a vacancy on Torfaen Council. In Torfaen, Reform also has councillors David Thomas, Alan Slade and Jason O'Connell who defected to the party. At a press conference in March, Nigel Farage welcomed three other councillors who defected to his party in Wales. The elected representatives who defected to Reform were Geoff Morgan, Ithon Valley Ward (prev. Independent), Cllr Claire Jonson-Wood, Llanyre with Nantmel Ward (prev. Independent) and Cllr Iain McIntosh, Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew ward (prev. Conservative). Nigel Farage said the defections demonstrated how his party was "broadening and deepening". The full results for the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr by-election are: Gary Chappell (Labour) - 667 Owain Clatworhy (Reform) - 697 Debra Ann Cooper (Green) - 54 Byron John Davies (Conservatives) - 55 Any Moss (Plaid Cymru) - 154 Rhys Watkins (Independent) - 351
Wales Online
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Nigel Farage's Reform party wins by-election in Wales
Nigel Farage's Reform party wins by-election in Wales The victory for Nigel Farage's party brings the number of Reform members on Welsh councils up to eight Nigel Farage has another Reform councillor in Wales after a by-election win (Image: Getty Images ) Reform have another Welsh councillor after they won a council by-election in Wales for the second time. A by-election was held on Thursday (May 1) to fill a vacancy on Bridgend County Borough Council following the resignation of Labour councillor Mike Kearn. Newly-elected councillor Owain Clatworthy narrowly beat Labour by 30 votes to win the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr seat. Labour retain control of the council, but the win boosts Reform's representation on Welsh councils to eight. Councillor Owain Clatworthy is now the second Reform politician in Wales to have won an election. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here After his win, the new councillor said: "I'm honoured to have been elected as Councillor for Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr. Thank you to everyone who backed change. I'm here to listen, serve, and deliver for our community. Let's build a ward that works for everyone." It comes as Reform had some massive wins in English elections. Nigel Farage's party beat Labour by just six votes to win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. Reform UK now have five MPs in Westminster. Article continues below The party is also on course for wins in the English local elections, winning its first mayoral election in Greater Lincolnshire with candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyns. Mr Farage claimed a "big moment" was taking place in politics after his party's wins. Read more on that here. In February, Reform won their first council by-election in Wales when councillor Stuart Kyle beat Labour by nearly 200 votes to fill a vacancy on Torfaen Council. In Torfaen, Reform also has councillors David Thomas, Alan Slade and Jason O'Connell who defected to the party. At a press conference in March, Nigel Farage welcomed three other councillors who defected to his party in Wales. The elected representatives who defected to Reform were Geoff Morgan, Ithon Valley Ward (prev. Independent), Cllr Claire Jonson-Wood, Llanyre with Nantmel Ward (prev. Independent) and Cllr Iain McIntosh, Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew ward (prev. Conservative). Nigel Farage said the defections demonstrated how his party was "broadening and deepening". Article continues below The full results for the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr by-election are: Gary Chappell (Labour) - 667 Owain Clatworhy (Reform) - 697 Debra Ann Cooper (Green) - 54 Byron John Davies (Conservatives) - 55 Any Moss (Plaid Cymru) - 154 Rhys Watkins (Independent) - 351
