Green Party’s only county councillor in Wales defects to Plaid Cymru
The Green Party’s only county councillor in Wales has defected to Plaid Cymru.
Emily Durrant, Powys County Councillor and former Green party Senedd candidate, today said that she was joining the national party.
Ms Durrant said that her decision – which came after “much deep and careful thought” was motivated by the realisation that social and environmental justice would “never be achieved” whilst Wales was a member of the UK and “ultimately governed by Westminster”.
She also praised Plaid Cymru’s priorities including pursuing independence and empowering communities.
Her decision was welcomed by Plaid Cymru Group Leader on Powys Council Elwyn Vaughan and Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price.
Ms Durrant, who was the lead list candidate for the Green Party of England and Wales during this year’s Senedd elections, will now sit as a Plaid Cymru councillor on Powys County Council alongside Plaid Cymru Group Leader Elwyn Vaughan and Councillor Bryn Davies.
“Changing party is not an easy decision and it has come after much deep and careful thought,” she said.
“But it has become clear to me that social and environmental justice will never be achieved whilst we are ultimately governed by Westminster.
“Climate change and nature loss is the greatest challenge facing future generations. But, with full control over our own resources, trade and infrastructure Wales would be better equipped to contribute to the global fight against climate change – unlocking Wales’ green potential at the same time.
“I want to be a member of a party that places the pursuit for independence as its top priority. A party that empowers local people and their communities. A party that puts tackling the climate and nature emergencies front and centre. A party that will work towards securing a sustainable future for the benefit of all.
“That’s why I have joined Plaid Cymru.”
‘Respected’
Leader of the Plaid Cymru Group on Powys Council, Councillor Elwyn Vaughan said that he was “thrilled” to welcome Emily Durrant to Plaid Cymru.
“Emily brings with her a wealth of experience which will be invaluable as we work together towards tackling the climate emergency, laying the foundations of a socially just independent Wales, and creating a sustainable future for our nation and our planet,” he said.
“I have been impressed by Emily’s commitment to the causes she champions, and I couldn’t be happier that she has found a new home with Plaid Cymru.
Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price MS also said that he was “delighted” at the news.
“Emily is a hugely respected and hard-working Councillor and I know she will make a significant contribution to the work of our party,” he said.
“Her decision reflects the broad appeal of Plaid Cymru and in the week of COP 26 it is a powerful endorsement of the party’s commitment to tackling the climate emergency.”
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Da iawn Emily
Funnily enough, I have been thinking of moving to the Greens. So fed up of the feeble opposition of Plaid to the nuclear mud issue, the raw sewage issue, and the dangerous s**g heaps. Action, please. Action.
It wasn’t me who objected to the word “s**g” ! Didn’t pass the automated censor.
Has she left
the Green Party in Wales
or
The Green Party of Wales
?
Neither.
The Wales Green Party is a semi-autonomous political party within the Green Party of England and Wales. [sic.]
aka Plaid Werdd Cymru
not a big deal. Time to get excited will be when a raft of Labour and Tory councillors and perhaps an Aelod Senedd or two from those parties make a move. That might cause a twitch or two among Unionists.
The green party should have its natural home in Plaid, the two should be woven into the same cloth…
Yes I empathise with the Greens but couldn’t possibly vote for an England and Wales Party.
Until the become independent and pursue independence for our country as party policy a la Scottish Greens, then neither will I.
No, I think that relationship is heading for the courts…but Plaid must have its own environmental cohort constantly trying to serve two masters…much better if we grow a few veg in amongst the gravestones and adopt the Blaenau method…
The Greens in Wales missed a great opportunity when members voted to remain an appendage to England’s Green party. A big mistake. All the Welsh Greens have done is to maintain the Unionist centrist status quo of Wales being the forever junior partner incapable & dependent by putting political stabilisers on us. Where the Greens in Scotland are a fiercely independent party that also supports Scottish independence and its aspirations to make Scotland a greener more environmentally friendly country independent from Whitehall wrecking ball misrule. And what do the Welsh Greens want for Wales? Whatever their London masters suggests? That’s… Read more »
The councillor should resign and stand again against a range of candidates.
They are representatives and should reflect the views of the constitutants NOT their personal views.
It’s impossible for any representative to represent the views of all their constituents. Views of constituents will differ and some will be mutually exclusive or even diametrically opposed.
With cases like this one it would be better if the councillor became an independent. They might or might not be selected as the PC candidate at the next election and if they were then it’s up to the electorate.
Councillors change parties all the time. She’s still the same person and she’ll still be pursuing the green agenda that she was elected on.
She’ll be pursing a different agenda than she was elected on unless the Green Party has the same manifesto as Plaid Cymru.
All councillors and other politicians should become independents for the remainder of their term should they feel the need to resign from the party they were elected under.
I wish her every luck. She is articulate and independent minded, but some senior people in Plaid do not tolerate that mix. 2 years is my guess…….