'We will be back' vows former Llanelli Assembly Member

PLAID will be back in Llanelli, their losing deputy Assembly group leader has said.

Helen Mary Jones bowed out from 12 years as an Assembly Member when she rejected a second recount after being told Labour's Keith Davies had beaten her by just 80 votes.

His 10,359 votes meant Labour had overturned Ms Jones's 3,884 majority to claim the seat that was fifth on its target list.

But Ms Jones pointed out that her party had regained the seat in 2007, adding: "I'm absolutely sure that Plaid Cymru will be back in this constituency.

"If it's not me, it will be a first rate candidate and that will be someone I will be proud to support."

She said her team fought a strong and hard campaign, but had been swimming against the tide of national opinion.

She added: "I think what Plaid was trying to do in the national campaign was put across a strong positive message about what the Assembly could achieve in these difficult times, but it was drowned out by what turned out to be a very British election."

Labour launched their Welsh campaign in Llanelli and brought down UK leader Ed Miliband as part of their huge push to win the constituency, and it paid off.

Plaid had hoped Ms Jones's personal popularity would carry them through against a resurgent Labour, and Mr Davies paid tribute to his defeated opponent, saying: "Helen Mary has a huge personal following in Llanelli.

"We knew that it was a big problem from the start. We had to look at what was important for the people of Llanelli, what their concerns were.

"We dealt with those in the campaign and the result was that we were successful."

The major concerns were the cuts coming from Westminster and a lack of jobs, he said.

Conservative candidate Andrew Morgan marginally upped his support as he came in third with 2,880 votes.

With turnout at 44.5 per cent, the Tory said: "To me that means that the Assembly as an institution has yet to have the confidence of the Welsh people, and I hope that Keith Davies plays his part in reversing that over the next four years."

Sian Caiach formed Putting Llanelli First last month and was pleased to poll 2,004 votes, saying it set up a county council push next year. Liberal Democrat Cheryl Philpott secured 548 votes but lost her deposit.

david.price@swwmedia.co.uk

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