The town council by-election candidate continued to be listed as a Conservative despite having changed his allegiance
Reform UK has secured victory in a Penarth Town Council by-election, despite the ballot paper listing winner Zak Weaver as a Conservative Party candidate. Mr Weaver, the former deputy chief of staff to Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar, won with 38% of the vote and will now represent the Plymouth ward.
He resigned from the Conservatives a week before the by-election meaning it was too late for the ballot papers to be altered. The results leaves the council with only one Conservative representative.
Speaking to The Cardiffian before the by-election, Mr Weaver said: “While my party may have changed, my dedication to our community has not changed. My focus has been on our town, not party politics.” For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
The defection was criticised in the run-up to election day by residents who described it as “totally outrageous”.
Penarth resident Conrad Bartlett said: “I really don’t see, if he did win, how he could possibly be allowed to keep his post.”
Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru’s by-election candidate, Aled Thomas, said Mr Weaver had “betrayed the people”.
Returning officer Rob Thomas explained that there was no provision under Welsh law “to amend the ballot or halt the election due to a change in political affiliation”.
The by-election was triggered after former Councillor Ben Gray was automatically disqualified for failing to attend the town council for six months.
Independent Mr Gray had held the seat since 2017, having been elected as a Conservative. He walked away from the party two years later over political infighting on Vale of Glamorgan Council.
Campaign material released ahead of Mr Weaver’s defection described his priorities as campaigning against Penarth’s controversial parking charges, which have been suspended, and the now-defunct aqua park on Cosmeston Lake.
He also pledged to fix the area’s roads, pavements and car parks.
Mr Weaver came first with 546 votes, while the Green Party’s Todd Bailey came second with 452 votes followed by Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru who secured 221 and 204 votes respectively.
The full results can be found here.
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