Returning Officer thanks public for engaging in democracy – FOI reveals barren media coverage from counts in Wales

Ian Bancroft took on a new role as Returning Officer for Wrexham which is a key role in the proper execution of democracy locally, with the most public part of that being making the formal declarations of the winners and losers of elections.

“I would like to thank the public for actively engaging. It is really important that we are as a Council we are promoting democracy.

“As I said when I first came in, elections are a really important part of what we do.”

I would like to thank the staff who worked hard during that election period, because it is very high profile, and it is very important we give it the level of recognition and importance it deserves. I think all of us, including the public, made it a successful election process.

Mr Bancroft added that media coverage aided the ‘transparency’ of such election processes.

Previously Mr Bancroft explained how he wanted to conduct the role in a civic light, and to ensure things were done
in a way that was ‘open and accessible way that encourages people to be part of the democratic process’.

Wrexham.com formally requested to film at the recent Euro elections, a slightly different set up than usual as it was at the Memorial Hall in town rather at Glyndwr University. As such the filming method and location was slightly different, however our requests were allowed and accommodated.

Locally we were shocked that we were the only outlet attending the election count, the first time being sole attendees at a count, and more surprised due to the extra focus on the election itself due to the wider ongoing Brexit context.

Up the road Deeside.com tweeted a relatable image of loneliness. It was rumoured that volunteers from one outlet were sought to cover it but no one stepped forward on the sunny Bank Holiday Sunday evening.

Press area at Coleg Cambria bristling with excitement this sunny Sunday evening…. pic.twitter.com/2efEVd9u1Q

— DEESIDE.com (@DeesideDotCom) May 26, 2019

Previously for the EU Referendum result in 2016 itself the then NWN now Newsquest publisher conspicuously opted out of covering the counts and result – and even the central count area in Flintshire. Although the Daily Post staffed that in Wrexham back in 2016, the only interesting update from them we could spot as counting was taking place was that “Glee is coming to Netflix”.

Due to this we wondered if the lack over oversight to a key part of the democratic process was a local issue, or something wider, so popped a FOI in to enquire who attended from what media to counts across Wales.

Locally ballots would have been counted, with a local result announced, exactly like in Wrexham. Voting totals were then sent to Pembrokeshire Council who were running the Wales ‘region’ collation and result. Media did attend that count (however there are no details back from the FOI for who) with results then syndicated or reported outwards.

Flintshire – told us the count “…was attended by a representative of Deeside.com No other media representatives were in attendance.”

Swansea – No media attended the count
Newport – No media attended the count
Anglesey – No media attended the count
Conwy – No media attended the count
Vale of Glamorgan – No media attended the count
Blaenau Gwent – No media attended the count
Ceredigion – No media attended the count
Caerphilly – No media attended the count
Carmarthenshire – No media attended the count
Torfaen – No media attended the count
Gwynedd – No media attended the count
Neath Port Talbot – No media attended the count
Monmouthshire – No media attended the count.

Bridgend – did not hold the information, although Anglesey helpfully explained why this could be the case, while answering the question, that “The Returning Officer (RO) and Electoral Registration Office (ERO) are independent roles, separate from the Council. The RO and ERO are not subject to the provisions of the FOIA”.

We also thought we would look over the border, and Cheshire West and Chester Council told us there was no media there either.

Six other authorities are still processing our FOI, which is still ‘in time’ for three more weeks and we will update this further when they arrive.

As the only other media attending a count in Wales that we know of so far we asked Deeside.com why they attended the count locally to them, “Attending the European Election count was non negotiable. While the media spotlight was shining on the Wales count HQ in Pembrokeshire over 40,000 votes were being counted by a super efficient team at Coleg Cambria’s sports hall in Connah’s Quay.

“Along with those counters were election agents and candidates themselves, and that part of the democratic process is one which in our view merited our attendance. While our election coverage was not that in-depth, being there to observe and report on an election count – and the bits which happen around it – is, for us, the absolute nuts and bolts of a local news entity.”

“It was a touch surprising – but not unexpected – to find we were the only media organisation in attendance.”

You can relive the fun of the count night here on our live updates page which has the full four hour video for you to spool through at your leisure…!