After 25 years in the Labour Party, Tegwen Devichand has resigned.
According to her social media account she says: On August 1st, 2021, as Leader of Llanelli Rural she wrote to David Evans, General Secretary of the Labour Party. She enclosed a newspaper article which was critical of the Llanelli Rural Council Officers and Councillors by one of the Labour members.
The Councillors believed that the accusations brought the labour-led council into disrepute and questioned the integrity of the council and councillors. In her letter she called for an immediate investigation into her allegations but nothing came of it. She feels that this was a lack of respect to the labour members of the Rural Council.
She concluded by thanking all the Labour Members of the Llanelli Rural Council who in solidarity refused to support the lies expressed in the press and on the doorstep.
Stalwart Jan Williams, Kim Thomas and many others have recently exited Llanelli Labour. However, Rob James, Carmarthenshire County Council Leader of the party is trying to recruit members to stand in this May’s local elections via social media.
Cllr Rob James said:
“After several decades being represented by Tegwen, local members felt it was the right time for fresh, new voices in Dafen and Felinfoel to stand up for local residents.
“Tegwen has decided to leave Labour rather than respect the views of the members and create her own party to stand against Labour.
“Similarly, members didn’t select Kim Thomas after she compared the Welsh Language to apartheid. We felt these comments were deeply offensive.
“We hold non-ill feeling to any former members, we are merely choosing fresh, energetic, community activists who are determined to better the lives of local residents.”
Lots of Labour members have left, all citing similar allegations of bullying and harassment within the group. Lots of these have now joined the non-political group, The Llanelli New Independents.
This group is growing rapidly and poses a serious threat to Labour at the ballot box this May.
