#penybontbromorgannwg — Public Fediverse posts

BRIDGEND: Youngest-ever councillor quits Reform, then independent — and has now joined party that wants to abolish the Senedd and bring back the death penalty

A Bridgend councillor who made history as the county’s youngest ever elected member has announced he is joining Restore Britain — a party that advocates abolishing the Senedd, large-scale deportation, banning the burqa and niqab, and holding a referendum on restoring the death penalty.

Owain Clatworthy, 21, who represents the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr ward on Bridgend County Borough Council, posted a letter to his constituents on social media on Friday announcing the move. He said the decision came after “much prayer and careful thought.”

It is his third political home in the space of a few weeks. Clatworthy was elected to the council last year as a Reform UK candidate, winning by just 30 votes in what was a closely fought contest. He was also selected to stand as a Reform candidate in the Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg constituency in the upcoming Senedd election — though he was placed at the bottom of the party’s regional list.

In March he quit Reform, accusing the party of “poor internal decision-making” and a “lack of discipline.” He said he had been placed at the bottom of the list despite having previously been offered positions in several other constituencies. He also gave a forthright interview to a podcast in which he claimed Reform’s vetting process involved being assessed by “arrogant young councillors from England” and alleged he had been “bullied” by a party figure, adding that there was “a lot of backstabbing, a lot of drama” within the organisation.

Just two weeks ago, Clatworthy said he wanted to sit as an independent — telling constituents it “isn’t about politics, it’s about our community.”

That position lasted a fortnight. In Friday’s letter he explained his change of heart, writing: “Since serving as an independent councillor, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on how I can best use my time and energy to deliver real change, and I’ve come to realise that I can’t do that effectively on my own. Real change needs a strong and organised movement, people pulling in the same direction with the courage to act, and I believe Restore Britain is building exactly that.”

He added: “My faith as a Christian calls me to act with honesty, compassion and boldness, even when it’s difficult. That’s why I’m joining Restore Britain.”

Restore Britain was launched in February by Rupert Lowe, the Great Yarmouth MP who was elected to Parliament for Reform UK in 2024 before leaving the party amid a public dispute with Nigel Farage. The party has attracted criticism from across the political spectrum, with some commentators describing it as far-right. Its stated policy positions include large-scale deportation, a ban on the burqa and niqab, and a binding public referendum on restoring capital punishment.

Lowe has also been a vocal critic of Welsh devolution. In August last year he called for the Senedd to be scrapped entirely, saying “scrapping the entire Welsh Assembly would be a positive move for Britain” — a position at odds with the views of the overwhelming majority of Welsh MPs and MSs across all mainstream parties.

Clatworthy’s letter also touched on grooming gangs, the cost of living, housing and border security, saying: “Protecting the innocent must always come before political correctness, and I support real action and accountability on this.”

His political journey has been a turbulent one even by the standards of a career that is barely a year old. As Swansea Bay News has previously reported, Clatworthy’s departure was one of several blows to Reform’s Senedd campaign in Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg, with three of the party’s six regional candidates having quit ahead of the May 7 election. It later also emerged that weeks after his election victory, Clatworthy had reportedly approached the council’s ruling Labour group about joining them — saying he couldn’t stand Farage.

He had spent over £400 on Reform’s vetting process to stand in the Senedd election before his departure from the party.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

Bridgend chaos: Three of Reform’s six Pen-y-bont Senedd candidates have quit and nobody knows who’ll replace them
Clatworthy’s exit was one of several departures that threw Reform’s Senedd campaign in Bridgend into disarray.

Reform beat Labour by 30 votes in council by-election
How Owain Clatworthy first won his Bridgend council seat for Reform UK.

More Reform UK coverage from Swansea Bay News
All our reporting on Reform UK’s candidates, campaigns and controversies across the region.

#OwainClatworthy #PenYBontBroMorgannwg #ReformUK #RestoreBritain #RupertLowe #SeneddElection2026

Latest Senedd poll puts Reform and Plaid neck and neck as South West Wales emerges as decisive battleground

The fresh Beaufort Research poll for Nation.Cymru puts Reform on 27% (down three points since September), Plaid Cymru on 26% (up four), Labour on 21% (down two), Conservatives on 12%, Greens on 9% and Liberal Democrats on 3%.

Seat projections show Reform and Plaid neck‑and‑neck on 30 seats each, Labour on 24, Conservatives on 9, Greens on 2 and Lib Dems on just 1. That would almost certainly see Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth installed as First Minister — either through a coalition with Labour or a looser cooperation deal.

But the real drama lies in the constituency breakdown.

South West Wales on a knife‑edge

The updated projections show how finely balanced the region has become:

Senedd ConstituencyComposed of Parliamentary SeatsProjected MSs (by party)Gŵyr AbertaweSwansea West + Gower3 Reform, 2 Labour, 1 PlaidBrycheiniog Tawe NeddBrecon, Radnor & Cwm Tawe + Neath & Swansea East3 Reform, 1 Labour, 1 Plaid, 1 Lib DemAfan Ogwr RhonddaAberafan Maesteg + Rhondda and Ogmore3 Reform, 2 Labour, 1 PlaidSir GaerfyrddinLlanelli + Caerfyrddin3 Plaid, 2 Reform, 1 LabourCeredigion PenfroCeredigion Preseli + Mid and South Pembrokeshire3 Plaid, 2 Reform, 1 LabourPen‑y‑bont Bro MorgannwgBridgend + Vale of Glamorgan2 Reform, 2 Labour, 1 Conservative, 1 Plaid

In Gŵyr Abertawe, Reform, Labour and Plaid split the six seats, with Reform edging ahead on three. In Sir Gaerfyrddin, Plaid takes control with three seats, leaving Reform on two and Labour squeezed down to one. Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd is even more fragmented, with Reform on three, Labour and Plaid on one each, plus single seats for the Conservatives and Lib Dems. And in Pen‑y‑bont Bro Morgannwg, Reform and Labour again take two apiece, leaving Plaid and the Conservatives with one each.

This mirrors the trend Swansea Bay News has tracked for months: Reform surging in working‑class valleys and coastal towns, Plaid consolidating its Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion heartlands, and Labour squeezed from both sides. The new numbers show Plaid clawing back ground, especially among younger voters and Welsh speakers, while Reform’s momentum has slowed.

Demographic divides deepen

The poll highlights stark splits:

• Men lean Reform (29%), while women lean Plaid (27%).
• Young voters (16–34) back Plaid (31%) and Labour (28%), leaving Reform trailing at 14%.
• Middle‑aged voters (35–54) give Reform a commanding 36%.
• Welsh speakers overwhelmingly back Plaid (41%), while non‑Welsh speakers put Reform ahead (31%).

These divides underline the cultural and generational fault lines running through South West Wales, with Reform strongest among older, non‑Welsh‑speaking voters and Plaid dominant among younger, Welsh‑speaking communities.

From landslide to stalemate

Just months ago, Reform were riding high in South West Wales, with polls showing them pulling ahead while Plaid slipped and Labour edged back. Warnings from the First Minister that a Reform or Plaid victory could plunge Wales into “chaos” reflected that momentum. Now, the picture is more complicated: Reform’s surge has stalled, Plaid has recovered, and Labour remains stuck in third place.

The result? A looming stalemate. With no party anywhere near a majority, South West Wales’ six‑seat constituencies could decide whether Wales ends up with a Reform‑dominated Senedd, a Plaid‑Labour coalition, or another fragile cooperation deal.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

From Westminster landslide to Senedd stalemate
Polling shows contrasting futures for South West Wales between Westminster and Senedd elections.

Reform still leading in South West Wales
Labour makes gains but Reform UK remains ahead in the latest Senedd polling snapshot.

Reform surge redraws political map
Reform UK’s rise reshapes the electoral landscape across South West Wales constituencies.

Reform pulls ahead as Plaid slips
Reform UK takes the lead while Plaid Cymru loses ground and Labour edges back.

First Minister warns of chaos
Mark Drakeford warns Wales could face chaos if Plaid or Reform win the Senedd election.

Plaid and Reform neck and neck
Labour slumps to a historic low as Plaid Cymru and Reform UK tie in the polls.

Two‑thirds think politicians are out for themselves
A YouGov poll finds widespread distrust, with most believing politicians act in self‑interest.

#AfanOgwrRhondda #BeaufortResearch #BrycheiniogTaweNedd #Caerfyrddin #CeredigionPenfro #GreenParty #GŵyrAbertawe #PenYBontBroMorgannwg #PlaidCymru #politics #ReformUK #SeneddElection #SeneddElections2026 #SirGaerfyrddin #WelshConservatives #WelshLiberalDemocrats