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Reform wins Illtyd by-election

Friday, 12 September 2025 01:36

By Bro Radio Newsroom X @BRORADIO

Reform UK has gained its first seat on Vale of Glamorgan Council after winning the Illtyd ward by-election in Barry.

Brandon Dodd took the seat, previously held by Labour, with 729 votes - a majority of 72 over Plaid Cymru runner-up Taif Ball.

It's the latest in a series of by-election gains on Welsh councils for Nigel Farage's party, which has been leading several opinion polls in the run-up to next year's Senedd elections.

Earlier this month, Reform also gained a seat on Cowbridge Town Council, where Valerie Ellis was elected.

The party said Mr Dodd, who was born and raised in Barry, was standing because "Illtyd needs a councillor who will challenge Labour and Plaid in the council chamber, call out wasteful spending, and put the needs of the community first in decision making and scrutiny."

Thursday's by-election was triggered by the death of former Barry town mayor and Labour councillor Howard Hamilton in July.

Plaid's candidate, Taif Ball, was making his fifth attempt to win a seat in the Illtyd ward, ultimately finishing second with 657 votes.

The Conservatives slipped to third place - with former Dyfan ward councillor Vincent Bailey taking 445 votes.

Labour's first time candidate Aled Blake fell to fourth with 415 votes, while for the Green Party, Aofie Blight trailed further back with 85 votes, with overall turnout low compared to the last local elections in May 2022.

Of the three ward seats, Illtyd now has one Reform councillor - Mr Dodd - alongside Labour's Naomi Marshallsea (also Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan) and the Conservatives' Janice Charles.

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