Home » Six candidates enter race for county council seat following resignation amid scandal

Six candidates enter race for county council seat following resignation amid scandal

Pembrokeshire County Council

A SIX-WAY battle to contest a Pembrokeshire seat made vacant following the resignation of local county councillor Andrew Edwards during the Christmas period is to take place next month.

Unaffiliated county councillor for Haverfordwest’s Prendergast Ward Cllr Edwards had previously been a Conservative group member, leaving in 2023 when serious allegations of racist ‘slave’ comments emerged, following a recording where he was alleged to have said every white man should have a black slave.

Following that allegation Mr Edwards, a former magistrate and a school governor, withdrew from the political group and referred himself to the Ombudsman for an independent evaluation.

Cllr Edwards, who became a councillor in the 2022 elections, neither confirmed nor denied the allegation when previously asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Since then, Cllr Edwards has tendered his resignation over the Christmas 2024 period saying his position is “untenable” due to “family matters”.

Following Mr Edwards’ resignation, notice was given by Chief Executive William Bramble of a casual vacancy for the county councillor position for the ward, and six candidates have thrown their names into the hat to represent the ward, the election to take place on February 11.

The candidates are: Kaleb Jenkins, Liberal Democrats; Mike Mathias, Conservative; James Purchase, Green Party; Scott Thorley, Reform; Alison Tudor, Labour; and Alun Wills, Independent, with further nominations now closed.

Poll Cards will be sent to electors before the election. The polling station will be at Pembrokeshire Archives, not Meadow Park Day Centre as has been previously used in recent years.

Photographic ID will not be required to vote at this election.

Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on January 24; applications to vote by post or alterations to existing arrangements for postal voting, must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by no later than 5pm on January 27.

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Applications to vote by proxy must reach Electoral Registration Officer by no later than 5pm on the February 3.

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