Former South Wales Wales East AM and ex-Caerphilly Council leader Lindsay Whittle has been selected as Plaid Cymru’s candidate for the Caerphilly constituency in the UK General Election to be held on Thursday, June 8.
Cllr Whittle, who has been a councillor representing Penyrheol for more than 40 years, will be contesting his eighth UK General Election.
He said: “I’m delighted to receive a vote of confidence of party members in Caerphilly, where was I born and live. My family live here, it’s where I belong and an area I’m very proud and passionate about.”
He added: “Labour has represented this area at Westminster for decades but what have they actually achieved?
“The Tories have never been Wales’ friends while Labour is weak and divided and unable to offer strong opposing to the Tories. If elected, I and all Plaid MPs will use every day to fight for the best deal for Wales as we head for Brexit and we will defend our nation against the cruel and reckless Tories.”
Cllr Whittle is a former housing manager in Cardiff – a career he pursued for 25 years. He was also the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council from 2008 to 2011, a post he served in for a second time, after previously leading the authority between 1999 and 2004. He was a member of the National Assembly between 2011 and 2016, representing the South Wales East region.
He is chair of the governors for his old school, Cwm Ifor Primary in Penyrheol, where he also volunteers.
Caerphilly’s current MP, Labour’s Wayne David, has already confirmed he will be standing again on June 8.
How on earth is he going to represent his Penyrheol constituency if he is elected as an MP. At least when Cllr Whittle was an AM, he was still based in South Wales and not London. It is only Lindsay Whittle from Plaid Cymru who appears to actually do any work on behalf of his constituents in the Penyrheol ward, his Plaid Cymru colleagues seem to do very little except live off his name. I will have to seriously think about voting for Lindsay on Thursday in the Local Elections now as I believe this is his best chance to date of becoming elected as an MP and I don’t want our councillor being based in London, as I don’t believe he can represent us from London. I would urge everybody in Penyrheol to think carefully before voting on Thursday for Lindsay Whittle to be re elected as a Cllr.
That is well thought out Lou, I am impressed with your train of thought. In the end though I don’t think it matters as Labour will probably be elected and Lindsay, barring an electoral earthquake, will be elected as one of Penyrheol’s councillors.
In the last general election Plaid Cymru came fourth. UKIP were the main opposition followed by the Conservatives.
I understand what you are saying, however, Lindsay Whittle has been a respected Cllr for 40ish years, and is held in a higher regard in Caerphilly than the person who represented Plaid Cymru last time. If he is on the Campaign trail for the general election, how is he going to represent his constituents during that time? Plus with how recent elections have gone in the political world, who can really predict what is going to happen? I think he should decide does he want to be a Cllr or MP? I truly believe we his constituents of the Penyrheol Ward would suffer if he were to be elected as an MP and that is why I will not vote for him to be re elected as a Cllr tomorrow and would encourage all others who are thinking of voting for Lindsay Whittle in the Local Elections to think carefully before placing their X next to his name.
OMG well I be voting ukip instead this man is a total liar when he was leader of Caerphilly council he allowed the council to apply pay rise that was not acceptable saying if a head of department is doing to jobs but saving on one job should be paid more a 50k raise not in my workplace I’m expecting to doit then you want him to fight your corner and he turns his back never get my vote again
Wants to be MP for his own selfish gains.