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Jeremy Rogers's avatar

The Labour vote decreased by over 45 percentage points in Merthyr Tydfil in 1970 but again it was over a deselection, in that case the redoubtable SO Davies who carried over 50% as an independent.

Andrew Kitching's avatar

Why on earth did the Senedd choose a closed list system? Were all the parties keen to take control of their candidate lists? They really don't like STV do they? And yet it may well have kept Labour and Conservatives in the game for future elections

Rob Ford's avatar

Its a good point re STV, and really rather puzzling that it wasn’t adopted, given it is an option councils can adopt for future Welsh local elections and is already used in Scottish local elections and all NI elections, while list PR is not used anywhere and may end up less proportional and more unpredictable given the combination of small 6 seat constituencies (and hence high thresholds) and fragmented voting across 5 plus parties all with different geographies

Malcolm Nicholls's avatar

Drakeford wanted this system because “we will have a Labour Senedd member in Brecon for the first time”. Instead the system he wanted will ensure Labour’s result next May will be even worse.

Andrew Kitching's avatar

Very foolish of them. They should have put voters and the democratic system first; not perceived party advantage. It will come back to bite them

Aaron Clwyd's avatar

The Labour Party decided this, they are responsible for this embarrassment despite Plaid demanding STV and an open list. But thanks to the Labour Party this is the best we could get

Andrew Kitching's avatar

Ah well, maybe Plaid will be in a position to change it if they win big.