THE LOCAL elections on May 4 saw a fantastic night for Labour in my constituency. Across Wales there was a mixed bag of results, with Labour losses in Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend and Blaenau Gwent, while doing well in Newport, Swansea and Cardiff. There was a record number of Welsh Labour candidates across Wales. I recognise the hard work and commitment shown by all candidates. In Cardiff South the number of Labour candidates increased from 12 to 15. Labour candidates won every seat in the Cardiff end of the constituency. In Penarth, Labour candidates won 6 out of 7 seats and held on to their 12 Labour councillors on the Town Council. The hard work of the campaign was well worth it.

The newly elected Penarth Councillors are Ruba Sivagnaanam and Neil Thomas for St. Augustines and returning Councillors Rhiannon Birch and Peter King for Cornerswell, and Lis Burnett and Mark Wilson for Stanwell. They ran a campaign based on issues that matter to local communities. It was about the priorities of local people, set by local people. Over the last couple of months issues such as school admissions, Penarth Pavilion, Local Development Plan and the Council’s road maintenance programme have featured heavily in my postbag. I know that all of the Penarth councillors will do their best to represent our constituents on these important issues.

During the campaign there was real support for what Labour is doing in the Assembly. It is important that we recognise what we have achieved and the tough choices that still face us against a backdrop of austerity and cuts from the UK Government. I look forward to working closely with our new and returning set of local Councillors to serve the people of Penarth.