There's a by-election for the Blaengwrach ward on 20 October 2016 which could provide some pointers for next year's County Borough elections as a whole. The results of the vote may also help various Parties look at their overall tactics - especially if they want to make inroads into the Labour domination of the Council.
You see, for the past three elections in that seat, in 2004, 2008 and 2012 it has been fought by only two Parties, Labour and Plaid Cymru.
In 2004 the seat was won by Carolyn Edwards for Plaid Cymru on 436 votes against the Labour candidate's 237, a majority of 199. Turnout was 44.1%.
In 2008 the seat was won by Alf Siddley for Labour on 432 against Edwards' 380, a majority of 52. Turnout was 51.55%. This result followed a controversial local issue about the closure of a local youth facility called the Cwmgwrach Cabin which Labour exploited as a major electioneering plank. This probably explains the higher turnout.
The Cwmgwrach Cabin reopens in 2010. Alf Siddley is in the blue shirt. Recognise the great and the good there to milk the occasion? Why no Welsh flags flying?
In 2012 the seat was again won by Alf Siddley on 362 votes against Plaid's 290, a majority of 72. Turnout was 42.28%
Alf Siddley sadly died earlier in 2016, resulting in the present by-election for the vacant seat.
On this occasion, though, there are FIVE candidates.
Peter Damien Crocker-Jaques, Welsh Conservatives
Carolyn Edwards, Plaid Cymru
Thomas John Evans, Independent
Sarah Ann Price, Welsh Labour
Richard Herbert Pritchard, UKIP
Plaid, Labour and UKIP candidates are from the village.
The Independent candidate, John Evans is from Glynneath (a very hard working, and highly respected local councillor. He would do a bloody good job but I hope he'll go for Glynneath next year if he's unsuccessful. I wish him well).
The Conservative candidate is from Neath Abbey.
I know next to nothing about this seat nowadays but my gut feeling says that Plaid Cymru will get it. But if other Parties throughout the County Borough really want to see that Labour hegemony on the Council threatened they may need to consider some tactical rethinking. There will always be a basic Labour "donkey" vote in most seats, a bit like there's always a particular percentage of noxious gases in the atmosphere. You'll never eradicate it. But if two, three, four or even more other Parties are then vying for the remaining vote share it could allow that Labour core (donkey) vote to win them the day as the other votes are shared around. Might it not be better to get one good, strong, local candidate up against the Labour one? Just a thought. "Oh, that's disgusting. It's just not cricket, Stan," I hear the Labour chants go up. "Bollocks," I say. "What about that trick you pulled with the Ratepayers last minute in a previous election when their candidates defected at the twelfth hour to Labour - and it was all planned that way." When it comes to underhand dealing and reprehensible practices, no-one has the edge on Labour. Especially when it comes to dealing with anything that might threaten that rigor mortis like grip on power they maintain in NPT.
Surely what non-Labour voters throughout the County Borough want above all is to see a change in how Neath Port Talbot is run? Enough is enough. And let's be honest - we are the majority - not them! The only way that will happen is to see the back of these self-serving, timeserving, avaricious bunch of parasites (not all - but too many of them, I'm afraid) that use the name of the Labour Party as a means of getting on, of building power bases, feeling important and strutting their stuff and lining their pockets with those allowances. I don't recognise that behaviour in local Councillors I know from other Parties, or independent councillors, who seem more grounded in their communities. What is it about the Labour Party that attracts these sorts, like a magnet attracts iron filings, a playground attracts paedophiles, a free bar attracts alcoholics and like a cowpat attracts flies?
Anyway, that's got that off my chest for now. Do I feel a lot better for it! Time for a beer.
