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Vote 2013: Ex-Anglesey council leader Bryan Owen loses | Vote 2013: Ex-Anglesey council leader Bryan Owen loses |
(35 minutes later) | |
A former leader of Anglesey council has lost his seat as results are declared in the island's local election. | A former leader of Anglesey council has lost his seat as results are declared in the island's local election. |
Independent Bryan Owen blamed "gerrymandering" after losing out to Plaid Cymru. | |
With 28 of the council's 30 seats declared, 13 had been won by independents and Plaid had 11. | |
The number of seats has been cut from 40 since the last election and 11 multi-member wards have been created following big boundary changes. | The number of seats has been cut from 40 since the last election and 11 multi-member wards have been created following big boundary changes. |
The election was postponed from last May while the council was run by Welsh government-appointed commissioners. | The election was postponed from last May while the council was run by Welsh government-appointed commissioners. |
Turnout across the island was 50.5% - higher than the Welsh average at the 2012 council elections, but lower than Anglesey's last local elections in 2008. | Turnout across the island was 50.5% - higher than the Welsh average at the 2012 council elections, but lower than Anglesey's last local elections in 2008. |
Mr Owen was beaten by a Plaid clean sweep in the Canolbarth Mon ward. | Mr Owen was beaten by a Plaid clean sweep in the Canolbarth Mon ward. |
Speaking to BBC Wales, he was asked if he thought the election had been set up to get rid of the indepenents who have dominated politics on the island. | Speaking to BBC Wales, he was asked if he thought the election had been set up to get rid of the indepenents who have dominated politics on the island. |
"There's no doubt about it," he said. "There's been some gerrymandering (manipulation of boundaries to favour political parties) to be honest with you and I believe that it's been done to favour the political parties." | "There's no doubt about it," he said. "There's been some gerrymandering (manipulation of boundaries to favour political parties) to be honest with you and I believe that it's been done to favour the political parties." |
He said that he was unlikely to stand again, but that the authority had made big improvements and had a "bright future ahead of it". | He said that he was unlikely to stand again, but that the authority had made big improvements and had a "bright future ahead of it". |
Three sitting councillors - two from Labour and one independent - were returned in the Caergybi ward, the first to be declared. | Three sitting councillors - two from Labour and one independent - were returned in the Caergybi ward, the first to be declared. |
The ward's UKIP candidate, Afryl Davies, got 627 votes, more than the Conservative and Plaid Cymru candidates combined. | The ward's UKIP candidate, Afryl Davies, got 627 votes, more than the Conservative and Plaid Cymru candidates combined. |
Ministers intervened in the island after years of political infighting. | Ministers intervened in the island after years of political infighting. |
Commissioners were appointed to run the council in 2011 when a damning report said previous attempts to sort out problems had not found a lasting solution. | Commissioners were appointed to run the council in 2011 when a damning report said previous attempts to sort out problems had not found a lasting solution. |
The report by the auditor general recommended a programme of "democratic renewal" and a review of electoral arrangements. | The report by the auditor general recommended a programme of "democratic renewal" and a review of electoral arrangements. |
As part of a new election system, councillors will be chosen in 11 multi-member wards where people had two or three votes. | As part of a new election system, councillors will be chosen in 11 multi-member wards where people had two or three votes. |
There were 106 candidates standing for election. | There were 106 candidates standing for election. |
Returning officer Richard Parry Jones, the council's chief executive, has said the high number of candidates and competition for seats in the new wards was a sign that democracy on the island had been "reinvigorated". | Returning officer Richard Parry Jones, the council's chief executive, has said the high number of candidates and competition for seats in the new wards was a sign that democracy on the island had been "reinvigorated". |
In 2004, 14 of the then 40 seats available were uncontested. In 2008, seven seats were uncontested. | In 2004, 14 of the then 40 seats available were uncontested. In 2008, seven seats were uncontested. |
As well as independent candidates the four main political parties have fielded candidates in the election, and UKIP had 11 candidates. | As well as independent candidates the four main political parties have fielded candidates in the election, and UKIP had 11 candidates. |
UKIP hailed early gains in local elections in England where 27 councils were being contested. The party also came second to Labour in the South Shields parliamentary by-election. | UKIP hailed early gains in local elections in England where 27 councils were being contested. The party also came second to Labour in the South Shields parliamentary by-election. |
A small number of the 40 town and community councils on Anglesey also held elections on Thursday. | A small number of the 40 town and community councils on Anglesey also held elections on Thursday. |