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Merthyr Tydfil Politics South Wales

Merthyr Tydfil councillors leave independent group to establish new faction

Merthyr Tydfil Civic Centre

TWO independent councillors on Merthyr Tydfil Council have left the main Independent group on the council to form their own new group.

Councillors Declan Sammon and Paula Layton, who represent Dowlais and Pant, have formed a new group on the council called the Dowlais and Pant community independents.

Cllr Sammon said: “I can confirm that Paula and I have left the Independent group and formed our own group.

“We have done this as we feel it is the best course of action to take for for us and for the residents of Merthyr Tydfil.

“We are happy to work with any councillor who wants the same as us, which is to improve our communities and the Borough of Merthyr Tydfil.”

Cllr Sammon has been an independent councillor since being elected in 2017 while Paula Layton was first elected in 2022 and is currently the deputy mayor of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough.

Following Gillian Preston winning the Bedlinog and Trelewis by election, the Labour group now has 14 councillors.

The main Independent group now has 12 councillors, there are now two Dowlais and Pant Community Independents councillors and there are two independent councillors in Councillor Kevin Gibbs and Jamie Scriven.

At the last local elections in 2022, Labour won 15 seats and the independents won 15 seats with Councillor Geraint Thomas eventually elected leader through a casting vote by the mayor after a tied vote.

The Independent group has been running the council since 2017 when it took over control from Labour.

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