The "Best ever local government results for Plaid Cymru" is the message tonight from the Welsh nationalist party, after the final results come in from the local county council elections held throughout Wales and England on the 1st May 2008.

In a Plaid TV broadcast tonight, Adam Price, Plaid Member of Parliament, said that :

"…the Party has pulled of a magnificent result, not just equalling our best ever tally that the famous quiet earthquake of 1999, but also incredibly, coming out second throughout England and Wales of all political parties in terms of net gains… more net gains for Plaid Cymru in Wales than the Liberal Democrats achieved throughout England and Wales. A terrific result and real testimony to the hard work of the Party and the fantastic response that we've received the length and breadth of Wales."

Nevertheless Plaid lost overall control of its usually very safe Council of Gwynedd and failed to gain control of any one Council in Wales. Despite this, the overall support of Plaid increased dramatically and the Party managed to gain Councillors where there were none before, such as in Wrecsam/Wrexham. In addition, Plaid pulled much of the support away from Labour, even in very safe Labour seats such as Caerffili, where Plaid and Labour now have 32 Councillors each.

The Conservatives in Wales were also celebrating after managing to keep control of Monmouth and gained overall control of Vale of Glamorgan. The Liberal Democrats kept control of Cardiff, Wales' largest council, and stayed in power in Swansea, but looked likely to have to form a coalition. The big losers in these elections though were the Labour Party who were down to 122 seats, leaving the party on 344.

In a press conference Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the UK, admitted that it had "been a bad night for Labour" who overall lost 331 Councillors throughout Wales and England, including some of their key seats.

There were no local council elections in Cornwall however, due to controversial changes in local Government, much to the regret of Mebyon Kernow – the Party for Cornwall. In a statement issued by the MK before polling opened in Wales and England, Phil Rendle, Deputy Leader said :

"In Cornwall we are in the midst of a democratic desert… When the rains fall again on Cornwall's democratic desert let us hope that our fields will be filled with more colour that the current near-monoculture at County Hall."

Plaid TV broadcast :
(voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

03/05/08