A CONTROVERSIAL funding row, plus a Conwy councillor’s decision to break away from the Conservative party, surrounded David Cameron’s visit to Llandudno.
Last week the Conservative leader travelled to Venue Cymru to speak at his party’s Welsh conference. With the general election drawing near he spoke of a confident, prosperous and family friendly Wales under his leadership.
But the visit came after Llyr Huws Gruffydd, who will be the Plaid Cymru candidate in the forthcoming Westminster election, called for Conservatives in the constituency to pay back money donated by Tory vice chairman Lord Ashcroft following the recent tax scandal, arguing keeping it would be unethical. He said money donated to Conservative politicians in large areas of Conwy and parts of Denbighshire by Mr Ashcroft, which he claims was a five figure sum, should be returned. He said: “Their slogans about change are empty and meaningless. Whilst the rest of us are going to have to face cuts of one sort or another following the recession, leading Tories are busily avoiding tax, and in this case, donating massive amounts of money to their party.
“I believe that David Jones and his fellow Tories in Clwyd West should take a long look at themselves and decide whether it is ethical and proper to keep the money which this man channelled in their direction,” he added.
Mr Jones confirmed a five figure sum was donated by Bearwood Ltd, a company owned by Mr Ashcroft, but said the money was a donation and should not be paid back. He said: “This has been declared to the electoral commission and on my register of interests. The returning officer has been informed since 2005, when I was elected. The people of Clwyd West do not respond to mudslinging, they respond to positive action, people who get things done.”
This week Conwy County Borough Councillor, Dave Holland, announced he would be leaving the council’s Conservative group, becoming an Independent councillor.
Mr Holland, a resident of Llandudno, represents the Abergele-Pensarn area. He said: “I suppose the vote on the council’s budget last Thursday was just about the last straw. I will always believe that everyone should vote the way they feel is right but I felt that some of our group, who voted, voted politically, which is their right but they gave no alternative suggestions.
“Neither was there an acknowledgement that even though it (council tax) was raised by 4.7 per cent, in cash terms (around £36 per year on Band D) that was the national average, as Conwy has the third lowest rate in Wales,” he added.