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Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems step aside in the Vale of Glamorgan – giving Labour a free run at Cairns

07 Nov 2019 2 minute read
The Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns. Picture by Number 10 (CC BY-NC 2.0).

Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats will not contest the Vale of Glamorgan at the General Election, giving Labour a free run at unseating former Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns.

Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats and the Greens have agreed a pro-EU electoral pact in 11 of the 40 seats in Wales.

This includes stepping aside in the Vale of Glamorgan for the Greens – who only won 419 votes there last time.

Plaid Cymru won 2,295 and the Liberal Democrats 1,020. The Conservatives’ majority over Labour was 2,190.

 

‘Defining’

As part of the deal, Plaid Cymru will get a free run in Arfon, Caerphilly, Carmarthen East, Dwyfor Meirionydd, Llanelli, Pontypridd, and Ynys Mon.

The Liberal Democrats alone will contest Brecon & Radnorshire, Cardiff Central, and Montgomeryshire.

“Plaid Cymru will be putting the Welsh national interest first and putting party politics aside to deliver as many MPs from pro-Remain parties as possible in this defining election,” Adam Price said.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson added: “I am delighted that we’ve been able to announce this arrangement to make sure we get as many pro-Remain MPs as possible. Our brighter future is built by working together so we can Unite to Remain.”


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Sibrydionmawr
Sibrydionmawr
5 years ago

I live in Cardiff Central, so it looks like I’ll be holding my nose and voting Labour again in this general election as there is no way I’m going to vote for Yellow Tories.

David Evans
David Evans
5 years ago
Reply to  Sibrydionmawr

then by your actions you are basically you can’t priotitise Remain. If a brexit candidate wins there, then you will be partly repsonsible. Well done on being too stubborn to vote tactically

D R Davies
D R Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  David Evans

Reminder. Some Plaid voters wish to leave the EU for a variety of reasons including not supporting a neoliberal economic block – it’s treatment of economies such as Greece and its lack of support for small nations seeking self determination such as Catalonia
Cardiff Central is my constituency too

Sibrydionmawr
Sibrydionmawr
5 years ago
Reply to  D R Davies

It’s highly unlikely that a Brexit candidate will win here either. And whilst remaining in the EU is important to me, I swill still not vote for Tories, of any colour.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
5 years ago
Reply to  D R Davies

Er actually the overwhelming majority of plaid members and voters support staying in the EU, and Wales one day being a full member if it. They do so because they understand the importance to Wales of tariff free access to the single market – and also because they understand Wales risks being swallowed up by a right wing England in the future if brexit happens. As for the supposed ‘neo liberalism’ of the EU well just wait until you see the trade deals a right wing Tory UK govt will be cutting with countries like the US post brexit ?… Read more »

Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Completely agree, Leigh. And please , regretfully, will Plaid and Lib Dems stand aside in Preseli too, please. Stop Crabb, theLeaver.

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
5 years ago

There must also be a deal between Plaid and Lib Dems for both Pembrokeshire seats and Monmouth.

Richard
Richard
5 years ago
Reply to  D R Davies

With respect I think your view of the EU is mistaken. 1. With respect to Catalunya, they have no right (or mechanism) to intervene in the internal politics of Spain. Would you be happy if they intervened in our politics? 2. Economies like those of Greece, Spain, Portugal and indeed Ireland, have benefited enormously from membership of the EU. You must ask yourself why support for EU membership is so high in these countries.

Helena
Helena
5 years ago
Reply to  David Evans

Labour isn’t brexit…. labour is the only party who will be holding a people’s vote on any deal, to include Remain… its why many many people are voting labour…including my Jewish husband..

David Roberts
David Roberts
5 years ago

Plaid giving Labour a free run…well, well, well……..

Penderyn
Penderyn
5 years ago
Reply to  David Roberts

The one time I agree though.. alun cairns has been desperately making us an english county

Royston Jones
5 years ago
Reply to  Penderyn

And Labour’s an improvement!

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
5 years ago
Reply to  David Roberts

Actually they are giving the Greens a ‘free run’ – the Greens are part of this electoral arrangement

andrew murphy
andrew murphy
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Royston knows full well Plaid stood aside in The Vale to allow The Greens to stand as part of the remain pact it’s just lazy trolling on his part, nothing new there though

Gwylon Phillips
Gwylon Phillips
5 years ago

Sitting MPs should not be challenged. Plaid is standing down in Brecon and Radnor who has a sitting LibDem MP, but LibDems are not standing down in Ceredigion which has a Plaid sitting MP. Where’s the fairness or even the political reality in that.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago

The failure to gain a quid pro quo in Ceredigion is a big blot on Plaid leadership’s credibility. Anyone with a breath left in them should be out supporting Ben Lake to show the corrupt LibDems, and Plaid leadership, how it’s done.

CapM
CapM
5 years ago

I’m waiting for someone to crunch the numbers relating to those constituencies for the last couple of general elections.
Not that those numbers will pin down what will happen in he coming general election but it should throw some light on why those 11 constituencies have been selected.
I think it’s probable that factors in addition to who has the sitting MP have come into play.

Stuart Stanton
Stuart Stanton
5 years ago

I am a long-standing Plaid member though living in England and cannot understand the logic of ‘standing aside’ The future of Wales is a far, far bigger issue than the so-called ‘Brexit’. All votes possible should go the one political party that puts the interest of Wales first. If persons in my situation could vote in their native Welsh constituency, Plaid would be in with a landslide.

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago

Nation Cymru is forever giving people who do not subscribe, and are against both Plaid and Wales, the chance to voice negative opinions on Plaid’s efforts to do its best for the economy of Cymru, and troll against voting for Plaid and Welsh interests.
Either allow comment to subscribers only, or do without comment at all. Reactionaries have the Daily Express, Breitbart and others to scribble to.
Be The Paper That Campaigns For An Independent Wales.

Sibrydionmawr
Sibrydionmawr
5 years ago
Reply to  jr humphrys

Nation.Cymru is one of the very few platforms in existence where the issues facing our small country can be discussed. I don’t often see much trolling of Plaid, or indeed much that would persuade someone who would normally vote Plaid, such as myself, to vote otherwise. I may most often vote Plaid out of a sense of total desperation where Plaid represents the least worst option, (i.e. the best of a very bad bunch) but it would seem that this time I’m to be denied even that option. Plaid is often criticised in these pages, and rightly so, as are… Read more »

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  Sibrydionmawr

Ateb cywir llawn synwyr. Correct reasoned response.

Attempts to confine comments within certain “boundaries” will only lead to the echo chamber effect and we have enough of that already in places. Reading and dismantling the arguments of others in this public place is a useful communications tool. I am content to do it to some commenters , and others are free to do it to my views. Stifling that debate is the first step towards an oppressive neo- fascist groupthink.

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago
Reply to  Huw Davies

The National, in Scotland, has done great work.
The “echo chamber” is the constant going-over of basics, where we should be talking about the architecture of future Wales, not having to defend basics.
A vast amount of space awaits reactionaries elsewhere. If folk can’t spot trolling, that’s a problem.

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago
Reply to  Sibrydionmawr

Ask people to pay three quid, and you’re a fascist. Lol!

Rhosddu
Rhosddu
5 years ago
Reply to  jr humphrys

Anyone who has Wales’s true interests at heart would share your dislike of anti-Welsh vitriol, JR, but bear in mind that no cogent arguments against independence have ever been submitted to this website; there have only been negative one-liners from a small number of trolls (perhaps just one sad and bigoted individual using a variety of pseudonyms), and we are big enough to ignore them and see them off with a downward tick on the arrow-box. As for the electoral wife-swapping currently going on between Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems and Greens, I can’t for the life of me… Read more »

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  jr humphrys

Stifling debate is a well known part of the neo-fascist toolbox. So don’t divert with a debate about subscription, we’ve seen and read enough b.s diversions on other topics. If you can’t tolerate a diversity of opinions then you should take a long hard look at yourself. You don’t have to like those views/opinions, just note their existence and present/ debate your alternative proposition.

ROLL
ROLL
5 years ago

Great news, that should wipe the smile off his face.

Annwyn Lewis
Annwyn Lewis
5 years ago

Never trust the Lib Dems. This was on another post and I agree.I am afraid the Lib Dems had a little taste of power and they want it again. I am sincerely confused why people seem to have forgotten how we got onto this disastrous path in the first place. You do not give a man-eating lion a second chance to bite you. Cameron-Clegg insured that voting Lib Dem was bad. Forever. Now Swinson wants to split the vote so that she can buddy up with the Tories again. Do not fall for the Remain stance, that’s just window dressing.… Read more »

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