Dilwyn Roberts is Plaid candidate for Clwyd West
Plaid Cymru has selected Conwy’s council leader as its candidate to win the Clwyd West constituency.
Dilwyn Roberts, who is standing down as councillor for Llangernyw after 13 years, has led Conwy Council for the past nine years.
Mr Roberts recently made the headlines when he was threatened with court for failing to pay his council tax.
He said his failure to pay the tax was mistake at a time when he had problems in his personal life.
Speaking about his nomination, he said: “I’m delighted to be chosen by Plaid Cymru for Clwyd West, a constituency where I’ve grown up and also represented on the council.
“I look forward to talking to voters about my vision to improve the area and what has already been achieved through my work in delivering on specific projects along the coast.
“I’m particularly pleased with the way Eirias Park has developed as a sports and entertainment centre over the past decade I’ve been running the council. We’ve invested in making it a really special location for world-class entertainers and also as the home of the highly successful RGC rugby team. Eirias Park has certainly put Colwyn Bay on the map.
“Colwyn Bay’s seafront has also been transformed with the Porth Eirias development and investment in the beach and the town centre will also be rejuvenated by the arrival of up to 500 council staff re-locating to the town.”
Mr Roberts said Clwyd West deserved a strong local voice to ensure better representation in Westminster: “I’m looking forward to working with Plaid Cymru colleagues in Parliament to ensure we get the best possible deal for Wales and in particular for this part of the country from any future Government.”
Several other nominations have also been made by parties ahead of the June 8 General Election.
In Wrexham where the Conservatives are bookies favourites to take the seat the party has chosen their candidate from last year’s Assembly election, Andrew Atkinson to stand.
He said: ““It is a great honour to have been chosen by Wrexham Conservatives to fight for the seat.
“I was born and raised in Wrexham, I live in Wrexham and I am proud of our town. I will be campaigning hard on the issues that matter to the people here, like more jobs and opportunities for young people.”
The Labour Party has chosen two former MPs, Gareth Thomas to stand in Clwyd West and Chris Ruane in the Vale of Clwyd.
In Clwyd West the party has picked Mr Thomas to run for his old seat, “Labour in this constituency is going to run a strong campaign on our pledges for better funding for schools, the health service and housing. We were in clear second place last time and are in the best position to beat the Conservatives here. I voted to remain but this election is going to be about more than Brexit. If elected I would oppose any deal which endangered the local and rural economy and jobs,” he said.
The Labour candidates in Aberconwy is Emily Owen, in Arfon, Mary Griffiths Clarke and in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mathew Norman.
In Clwyd South, the Conservatives Party has chosen Simon Baynes as its candidate.
