Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Tory Brecon and Radnorshire Assembly candidate in trouble already
The BBC reports this morning that the newly selected Conservative candidate in one of the party's top assembly election target seats is being investigated by the public services ombudsman.
They say that Powys county councillor Gary Price, who is standing for Brecon and Radnorshire next year, is alleged to have brought a local authority into disrepute. A formal complaint has also been made about his selection in an open primary last month.
They add that the president of the local branch, Jonathan Reeves, believes that the Conservatives' chances in the election in Brecon and Radnorshire, where they will be up against Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, will be harmed.
In fact, the Western Mail reports that local Conservatives have warned their head office that Mr. Price's selection, combined with their loss of the Glasbury Council seat earlier this month means that the Liberal Democrats will hold onto Brecon and Radnorshire in May:
BBC Wales has seen a copy of an email sent to the Welsh Conservatives' chairman Jonathan Evans.
If the ombudsman investigation goes against Mr Price, the letter says: "This would make his position as a candidate even more untenable than it already is, create a large amount of negative publicity and leave any campaign to take the seat from the Lib Dems in tatters."
A source at the office of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales confirmed it was investigating a complaint that Mr Price behaved in a way which brought Powys council into disrepute.
It is understood to relate to an employment disciplinary matter.
Mr Price, a former Plaid Cymru candidate in the last assembly election in 2011 in Brecon and Radnorshire, was suspended as a councillor two years ago when he disclosed sensitive information which was given to him in confidence.
The local branch has also received a complaint alleging that Mr Price received texts during a question and answer session in the open primary near Llandrindod Wells, Powys.
We are not taking anything for granted.
They say that Powys county councillor Gary Price, who is standing for Brecon and Radnorshire next year, is alleged to have brought a local authority into disrepute. A formal complaint has also been made about his selection in an open primary last month.
They add that the president of the local branch, Jonathan Reeves, believes that the Conservatives' chances in the election in Brecon and Radnorshire, where they will be up against Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams, will be harmed.
In fact, the Western Mail reports that local Conservatives have warned their head office that Mr. Price's selection, combined with their loss of the Glasbury Council seat earlier this month means that the Liberal Democrats will hold onto Brecon and Radnorshire in May:
BBC Wales has seen a copy of an email sent to the Welsh Conservatives' chairman Jonathan Evans.
If the ombudsman investigation goes against Mr Price, the letter says: "This would make his position as a candidate even more untenable than it already is, create a large amount of negative publicity and leave any campaign to take the seat from the Lib Dems in tatters."
A source at the office of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales confirmed it was investigating a complaint that Mr Price behaved in a way which brought Powys council into disrepute.
It is understood to relate to an employment disciplinary matter.
Mr Price, a former Plaid Cymru candidate in the last assembly election in 2011 in Brecon and Radnorshire, was suspended as a councillor two years ago when he disclosed sensitive information which was given to him in confidence.
The local branch has also received a complaint alleging that Mr Price received texts during a question and answer session in the open primary near Llandrindod Wells, Powys.
We are not taking anything for granted.
