Ben Lake selected to fight new Ceredigion Preseli seat for Plaid Cymru
Ben Lake has been selected unopposed as the Plaid Cymru General Election candidate for the new Ceredigion Preseli constituency.
Mr Lake has represented Ceredigion in Westminster since 2017, increasing his majority in the 2019 election to 6,329 votes.
The new Ceredigion Preseli seat extends from Cardigan to Llanrhian along the Pembrokeshire coast and includes the inland wards of Crymych, Clydau, Maenclochog and Cilgerran.
Following his selection, Mr Lake said: “It is an honour to be selected as the Plaid Cymru Parliamentary candidate for the new Ceredigion Preseli constituency.
“It has been an immense privilege to serve the people of Ceredigion as their Member of Parliament since 2017. I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to seek re-election to not only continue to represent my home county at Westminster, but also to serve the communities of north Pembrokeshire – from St Dogmaels and Fishguard, to Maenclochog, Crymych and Llanrhian.
“There will no doubt be a fierce contest for this new seat, but I look forward to the challenge. I have been greatly encouraged by the warm reception I have received when speaking to people during my recent visits to Fishguard and Nevern.
“Many expressed disillusionment with the current Conservative Government, and I am looking forward to the opportunity of convincing them in the coming months to lend their vote to me at the general election.
“I am grateful to Plaid Cymru members across the length and breadth of the new constituency for nominating me. I cannot wait to begin the campaign, and will do my utmost to convince the people of this wonderful new constituency of Ceredigion Preseli that I am worthy of their support.”
Respect
Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for Ceredigion, Elin Jones added: “Ben is a hard-working, intelligent, and conscientious Member of Parliament who is highly regarded both locally in our communities and in Westminster, gaining respect from cross-party colleagues in the House of Commons.
“I look forward to joining my fellow Plaid Cymru members and supporters in helping Ben in his ambition to become the first MP for the new Ceredigion Preseli seat.”
Mr Lake narrowly defeated the Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams to win the Ceredigion seat for Plaid Cymru by just 104 votes in 2017.
Mr Williams subsequently finished in third place in the 2019 general election behind the Conservatives as Mr Lake secured 38% of the vote.
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Ben Lake along with LSR should be the template for Plaid in their recruitment of top talent to fight and win more seats at Westminster and Y Senedd. Stop parachuting favoured ideologues and run with bright local talent who identify with the local communities and their concerns.
Was it really going to be anyone else?! The man’s got a majority of more than 6000 and with the addition of parts of Preseli, I can’t see Plaid Cymru losing there.
We still have to work hard to get Ben Lake and Plaid Cymru elected for this new constituency with a bigger majority than he has now.
The Tories came 2nd in 2019 and we face an experienced LibDem candidate in Mark Williams that can split the progressive vote.
Everyone will face a tough time here should the Tories win Ceredigion.
The people of Preseli will need to get to know Ben Lake and Plaid Cymru message.
In 2019, Welsh Labour got 2nd place to the Tories and they will also be sending in their English army of supporters.
The Tories came a distant second in Ceredigion i’n 2019. In fact they only gained about 1500 votes more than they did in 2017. Mark Williams lost around 4000 votes. Even Labour lost votes in Ceredigion. I fully appreciate that Ben Lake needs to introduce himself to voters in Preseli, but he has a head start with Progressive voters and Welsh speakers. To me the only party that could make gains is the Tories and I don’t see much chance of that anywhere right now. Unless something seismic changes over the next 18 months Ben Lake won’t lose his seat… Read more »