“Independent candidates have taken the public for a ride” say Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru have said the discussions over the last few days to decide who controls Wrexham Council ‘devalues democracy’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As we reported earlier, the newly formed Independent Group has teamed up with the Welsh Conservatives to form an administration and take control of Wrexham Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Earlier Labour launched a stinging attack on what were their prospective partners, giving some insight to how discussions took shape. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Plaid Cymru returned nine councillors at last week’s election, and did not enter coalition talks with the new Independent group – with the complete lack of desire to work together in such a manner appearing to be mutual. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Marc Jones, who leads the Plaid Cymru group on Wrexham council, said: “People in Wrexham voted in extra Plaid and Labour councillors on Thursday but both parties have now been excluded from decision making. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I wonder how many people voted independent without realising they would be propping up a Tory-Independent regime? ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It devalues democracy when you see backroom deals being done by people who appear more interested in power than representing people. Despite some honourable exceptions, Independent candidates have taken the public for a ride and it’s no wonder people are cynical about politics. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Plaid Cymru group of nine councillors will be a positive voice for change in the council and we’ll all be working for the communities we represent.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Top pic: The larger Plaid Cymru group following the elections. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​