The Labour Party in Swansea has queried the political allegiance of two candidates in the forthcoming council elections, and claimed the Conservatives appeared to be "in disarray". Labour cited a leaflet about Gordon Walker, who is standing for re-election as an Independent in Clydach, in which he encourages electors to vote for a "dream team" comprising him, Brigitte Rowlands and Matthew Bailey.
The leaflet did not say anything about the other two's political allegiances. Mrs Rowlands is currently a Conservative councillor representing the adjacent Mawr ward, which is merging with Clydach and two other constituencies. Mr Bailey is a Clydach community councillor who has very recently switched from the Tories to Independent. You can read about Swansea councillors who are standing down here.
Swansea Labour leader Rob Stewart said Mrs Rowlands and Mr Bailey needed to "come clean" about their affiliation after having appeared on Conservative election materials. He alleged they had either "jumped ship because of the devastating Tory cost of living crisis and party gate scandal" or were trying to "hoodwink" voters. Labour candidates for the Clydach seat, Wez Morgan, Sue Powell and Dylan Williams, said, "the local Tories appear to be in disarray" and claimed people "know these (two) candidates are committed right-wing Tories".
