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Recounts leave Newport council in the balance

8:15pm Friday 2nd May 2008

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THE question of who will run Newport's city council is hanging in the balance tonight as the Conservatives are now just two seats behind Labour.

The Tories have not controlled the council since the 1970s, but this afternoon, they won three seats in Rogerstone, unseating a Labour cabinet member, and two in Caerleon after tense recounts. They also took seats from Labour in Malpas.

But there are still six critical seats to be fought over in St Julians and Bettws where polls are delayed for about a month after the deaths of candidates.

As things stand Labour have 19 seats, the Conservatives 17, Liberal Democrats six, one Plaid Cymru and one Independent.

It is clear that no single party will emerge at the end with overall control of the city council, but who will become the largest party depends on the outcome of the delayed elections.

There is also no overall control in Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, and Caerphilly councils.

The Conservatives retained Monmouthshire county council.

Labour suffered badly in other parts of Gwent with some commentators blaming it on national issues, such as the government's decision to axe the 10p tax rate.

However, in Blaenau Gwent - once one of Labour's safest strongholds - the fallout from the all women shortlist row, which led to the forming of People's Voice and a large number of stalwarts leaving the party, continues to reverberate.

The party in Torfaen also had a shocking night. Activists had expected to have their majority cut but not to lose 18 seats and only gain two new ones.

While Labour remains the biggest single party with 18 seats the number of councillors from other parties has jumped from 10 to 26.

Plaid Cymru celebrated its first ever representation on the council after winning three seats in Fairwater, Coed Eva and Llantarnam.

In Caerphilly, the Independents took three seats from Labour in Blackwood.

Read the Saturday Argus for a six-page roundup of all the results and reaction.

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Your Say YourSouth Wales Argus

localhero, Rogerstone says...
10:59pm Fri 2 May 08

The election results merely confirm the general economics of the city with marginal areas transferring from Lab to Con. Lab could drop a bomb on some districts and they'd still vote Lab!

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Alan Deaves, Cwmbran says...
11:26pm Fri 2 May 08

Nice to see a few of the tired old stagers in Torfaen getting the boot and some new faces emerging. Granted some of the councilors, irrespective of their political affiliations do a great job and I was pleased to see one or two remain. No Lib Dem candidates to vote for in my ward though... most disappointing.

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Simon, Newport says...
12:16am Sat 3 May 08

I'm pleased to see a "no overall control" result. Hopefully now party politics will be left out, and policies will be about improvement, rather than party image...

Isn't it about time the UK media stopped shouting labour & conservatives, and started talking about what can be done for the better. I'm not impressed by any one party that could ever run a UK government, they are all hot air and no action...

Why on earth must an election campaign come down to parties? If a politician follows a party, then its the party that rule, not the people, making our "democracy" a self-perpetuating lie!

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Bill Payer, Newport says...
8:02am Sat 3 May 08

Well said Simon, I am also very happy with "No overall control" I believe that my local councilor should support me and people in my area, when we need them. I hope to see them all work together for the greater good of Newport. It is a shame that we could not have just had 50 independents, who have no alliance to a party, but work on behalf of their constituents. Good luck to all of the new councilors.Just remember who put you there, and why!

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Bill Payer, says...
8:14am Sat 3 May 08

"As things stand Labour have 19 seats, the Conservatives 17, Liberal Democrats six, one Plaid Cymru and one Independent. "

I have to take issue with the post above, by my reckoning there are now 16 conservatives , 19 labor, 6 liberal democrats, 2 Plaid Cymru and 1 Independent.

On the Newport City web page it lists Plaid Cymru as winning in both Rogerstone and Tredegar Park. Perhaps the reporter should check the figures again!

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john77, newport says...
10:04am Sat 3 May 08

I think that's a typing mistake on the list. Stephen Jones is a Tory definitely and they took all three seats in Rogerstone although Plaid did win Tredegar Park.

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ccc49, Langstone says...
10:43am Sat 3 May 08

I found the recent elections fascinating. in particular the way in which some of the candidates behaved. The smear campaigns,open letters critising each other - absolutely wonderful.

They talk of discussing iussues on the doorstep and listening to residents concerns. Most of the time when anyone came to my doorstep they hastily pushed a leaflet through my letterbox before scurrying away, even before I had time to get to the door. So how would they know what my concerns are?

I have lived in Langstone for 14 years. In this time the only prospective councillors to speak to me at my house has been Allan Morris when he lived in Laqngstone and recently Simon Lane who called round on a Sunday. Bearing in mind both of these individuals held/hold down a full time job they took the time out to discuss my concerns. This unlike some of the other candidates who are retired and could afford to spend a little of their time to visit me. The husband and wife team could surely have covered twice the ground.

One leaflet attempted to smear Simon Lane by listing his attendance at council meetings. I would like to ask the following question, were these meetings arranged at times when he could not attend due to work commitments thereby deliberately placing obstructions in the way? Could they have been re arranged when he would be able to attend?

This leaflet also contains an open letter from one resident. Amongst other things it refers to an incident where anti social behaviour was causing concern. Apparently the police were unable to attend and the Conservative councillor intervened by mobilising various agencies and the situation was rectified. I was unaware that vigilante groups were in operation in Langstone.

Finally my congratulation go to Councillor Lane and I hope to meet up with him again in the future as I feel he genuinally has the interests of the Langstone residents at heart

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clart, lower ringland says...
10:54am Sat 3 May 08

ccc49 im wih you m8 good point made

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BOB, NEWPORT says...
1:59pm Sat 3 May 08

What really concerns me is the total and complete unaccountability of the previous labour administration. There usual approach was to stick two fingers up to the electorate. They were unaccountable, self serving and not even good at the job.

Hopefully although it is now late in the day the new administration will try to sort out the mess that’s been made of Newport town centre in particular the shambles that we are going to have to replace the current bus station. They also need to sort out the refuse collection service.

They also need to understand that they have no mandate from the electorate to form alliances. If they wish to they should go back to the electorate to seek their agreement.

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S.Burke, says...
2:26pm Sat 3 May 08

What everyone has to learn from this (peoples perception of politics) whether or not they were happy with Gordon Brown in which he has run this country to the ground ,10p in the pound cost of petrol, house prises and the economy, credit crunch and so on.
All voters did was send a small and very helpful negative message to Gordon Brown that people are very unhappy in which the way he has been running this country. Which this message should be sent at the general election, rather than the local election.
The consequences of the result is that the voters have now voted in conservative councillors in return will face the consequences within a couple of months, I would say that nearly all Labour councillors knew that defeat was facing them, as a result of Gordon Browns decisions. Gordon Brown will now change his attitude within time to buy back voters confidence. Local councillors do not run this country. They help your community there is a very big difference.
People must have short memories of when the conservative party was in power

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Simon, Newport says...
3:43pm Sat 3 May 08

I fear that we may be headed to 4 years of disaster in Newport... Parties are talking about alliances, and party politics is threatening our future....

Are these councillors ALL so thick-headed and stupid as to think that party is what counts??? I want to see progress made in Newport, not political games and slanging matches between parties...

Some great progressive policies have been prepared and are being actionned in Newport to date.

What do I want to see more of??? I want to see more, better leisure facilities. More sports catered for, better accessibility (i.e. I can get to the place when I want/need to be there without a car...). I would also like to see a sustainable homes policy - i.e. making new homes cheaper to run... Better streets and better facilities for non-motorised persons - after all, why should people need a car?

Newport's development to date, and indeed its plans for the future, are heavily constrained by the existing situation. I want to see the planners openly talking about the future of Newport, its iconic buildings and structures and its people... What does the population need to do to keep up? I fear the next four years could see us left behind by political squabbling between parties, rather than reasoned discussion and debate about the best for the future from the people representing their wards' residents...

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vince marenghi, newport,gwent says...
7:52pm Sat 3 May 08

The forth coming Bettws and St Julian By-Elections are not about whos got the best party competition" between the Tories or Labour, its all about whats best for the people in the ward. I along with my collegues will be standing as an Independent Candidate. The Independents will be contesting both wards. The Independents are winning elections all around the UK. Like the Tories they too run two councils in Wales ! We are FREE from being told what to say. FREE to make our own descisions. FREE from their past political mistakes etc etc. etc. We will put the People of Newport first for Housing, first for Grants. First for Education Etc Etc Etc. We would also like to wish good luck to our opponants and kindly remind them not to use the people of Bettws and St.Julians as a political football.

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john77, newport says...
12:19pm Sun 4 May 08

Here's some free advice for Vince. Put in your application a day or two before the deadline. That way you can't complain when the police pull you over half hour before the deadline when you've just got around to filling in the form.

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vince marenghi, newport,gwent says...
2:26pm Mon 5 May 08

john, you need to re- read the Argus. The RGH made a wrong diagnosis which meant that my mum had to have her leg amputated, she also has life threatening illness' and because of a non exsistant council and social services I have to care for her night and day.. In the 2 weeks I had to hand in my nomination my familiy thought that we would lose my mum. I didnt have any sleep at all. She just menioned that shes so glad that you are not her Son. You John or any politition have never, or could ever attack my policies you can only make personal insults and attacks on myself and a sick, frail, severely disabled lady. I wonder what Party you stand for? I think we know ! As for the Police, they know, I fully endorse any police action to reduce crime in the community and I reguard our S.Wales Force as being the best in the country and always have. I have written to the Electoral Commission in London to change the Local Government Candidature 2 week Nomination deadline. It will protect future prospective Candidates against bereavements, illness' etc . Thanks once again to all friends and family for your letters of support that I have recieved I was quite overwhelmed by the amount of help offered. Thankyou Newportonians !

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DG, Newport says...
4:02pm Fri 9 May 08

I'm very surprised that so many people think that national issues influenced the local elections so much. Everyone I've spoken to in my area voted on the basis of their views on the bi-weekly rubbish collection, how they felt the regeneration project is going or their perception of local crime. (Surprising how differently people can view that, even in the same street)

And I think the Torfaen lot are paying the price for disregarding the electorate when closing the Blaenavon swimming pool.

Time for the outgoing members to stop blaming Gordon Brown and take a bit of responsibility, perhaps?

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