Results for Grangetown(Cardiff) and Gibbonsdown (Vale of Glamorgan) encouraging for Plaid.

Plaid are celebrating a gain from Labour on the Grangetown Ward f Cardiff Council



I haven't got the exact numbers yet but will update when I have Although Paid may have been slight favourites to win after the last election in nevertheless represents a major boost in the city

Result of ward at last election (2012) : Emboldened denotes elected
Labour 1,812, 1,709, 1,704 (42%)
Plaid Cymru 1,511, 1,467, 1,391 (35%)
Liberal Democrats 505, 501, 489 (12%)
Conservatives 308, 266, 251 (7%)
Green Party 215, 205 (3%)
Christian’s People Alliance 84 (1%)
Communists 77 (1%)
EU Referendum Result: REMAIN 101,788 (60%) LEAVE 67,816 (40%) on a turnout of 70%
Candidates duly nominated: Asghar Ali (Lib Dem), Tariq Awan (Plaid), Michael Bryan (Con), Maliika Kaaba (Lab), Richard Lewis (UKIP)

In the 2008  Election the Liberal Democrat had held the seat and it was a surprise  to see them pushed into third place in 2012

Grangetown  2008(3)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal Democrat	Francesca Montemaggi	1357
	Liberal Democrat	Asghar Ali	1319
	Liberal Democrat	David Morgan	1317
	Labour	Lynda Thorne	1138
	Labour	Stephen Brooks	1131
	Labour	David Collins	1104
	Plaid Cymru	Farida Alsam	1099
	Plaid Cymru	Patrick Daley	1009
	Plaid Cymru	Ioan Bellin	920
	Conservative	Benjamin Green	546
	Conservative	Mark Jones	533
	Conservative	Michael Wallbank	482
	Communist	Rick Newnham	111
Turnout			4266	36.8

So  there may have been worries that the Anti- labour vote may have transferred back to the Lib-Dems especially as they had only just  but they vote fell 

But clearly the Plaid team were up for it and made much use of Tariq Awan being the local candidate .

Despite Cardiff Labour Group being involved in Internal fighting among councillors  they have surprised those of us who are interested in such things  by holding on to a number of seats in by-elections.

They have now lost two in a row.

It may lead to strategist in both parties in the Capitol considering a formal or informal pact in certain wards  in which Plaid or the Lib Dems are poised to gain from Labour.

No such luck in the Gibbonsdown ward on the Vale of Glamorgan but an healthy second



Gibbonsdown (Lab defence) R on Vale of Glamorgan

Result of ward at last election (2012) : Emboldened denotes elected
Labour 787, 754 (62%)
Independents 301, 300 (24%)
Conservatives 105, 102 (8%)
Plaid Cymru 76, 73 (6%)
EU Referendum Result: REMAIN 36,681 (51%) LEAVE 35,628 (49%) on a turnout of 76%
Candidates duly nominated: Julie Aviet (Lab), Jennifer Geroni (Lib Dem), Dennis Harkus (Ind), Shirley Hodges (Plaid), Robin Hunter-Clarke (UKIP), Leighton Rowlands (Con)

So Plaid are pretty happy today and will be seeking to carry this forward next Bay in both councils,