Independent Llangyfelach councillor joins Welsh Conservative Party

Cllr Tribe, who was first elected to represent his home community in 2022, said he had made the move based on the party’s values and its ambitions for political change in Wales. He will now sit as part of the Gower and Swansea Conservatives group on the council.

The announcement was made by Tom Giffard MS, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, alongside Swansea councillor Lyndon Jones MBE.

‘A huge asset’

Welcoming the defection, Tom Giffard MS said:

“We are delighted to welcome Mark to the Welsh Conservative Party. He is a fantastic councillor for Llangyfelach and will be a huge asset to our local association and the wider party across Wales. I look forward to working with him for the people of Llangyfelach, towards our Welsh Conservative mission to Fix Wales.”

Cllr Lyndon Jones also praised the move, saying:

“I’m delighted that Mark has joined the Conservative Group on Swansea Council. Hard working local councillors can make such a difference to the communities they represent, to make sure they are the best they can be. It is also important to get the very best for residents across Swansea. I look forward to working with Mark to build a Swansea we can be proud of.”

‘An important time in Welsh politics’

Cllr Tribe said he was pleased to be joining the group.

“I am delighted to have joined the Conservative Group on Swansea Council and the Welsh Conservative Party this week,” he said.

“The Welsh Conservatives are the only party with a plan to fix Wales and I will continue to work hard locally for residents across the Llangyfelach Ward, whilst contributing to this national vision of renewal.

“This is an important time in Welsh politics, and I look forward to working with Tom, Lyndon, and the local association to make a positive difference.”

Comes after Conservative councillor defected to Reform UK in August

Cllr Tribe’s move follows another political shift on Swansea Council earlier this year. In August, Mumbles councillor Francesca O’Brien left the Welsh Conservatives to join Reform UK, becoming the party’s first councillor on the authority.

Cllr O’Brien, who was first elected in 2022, said at the time that she believed Reform UK offered the best opportunity to challenge what she described as the “Labour‑Plaid consensus” in Welsh politics. She had previously stood as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Gower in the 2019 general election, finishing second to Labour’s Tonia Antoniazzi.

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Swansea MS meets First Bus to discuss future of city’s transport network

South Wales West MS Tom Giffard has met with FirstGroup representatives at the Senedd to discuss the future of Swansea’s bus services, including plans for electrification, franchising, and the impact of recent strikes.

The meeting comes as First Bus rolls out a £350 million national investment to electrify its fleet, converting diesel vehicles to electric and introducing new carbon‑neutral buses across Wales.

“Reliable, timely public transport”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Giffard said he welcomed First Bus’s commitment to improving services:

“It was great to meet some of the team from First Bus to talk through their commitment to helping provide a timely, reliable public transport system, as well as their huge investment into a fleet of brand‑new carbon‑neutral buses across Wales, many of which will be coming to Swansea soon.

“I sincerely hope the Welsh Government engage with First Bus to enable them to help build the services people across Swansea deserve.”

He also raised concerns about the impact of the default 20mph speed limit on bus routes and journey times, calling for greater investment in roads and junction upgrades along the M4 at Ynysforgan and Penllergaer.

On social media, Mr Giffard shared a light‑hearted post after trying out one of the new buses himself:

“Good to get behind the wheel of a new First bus coming to a Swansea street near you very soon. But don’t worry, hopefully the drivers won’t still be on strike by then, so I won’t be the one behind the wheel!”

First Cymru: Net zero ambitions

Rob Pymm, Commercial Director for First Bus in Cymru, said the company was pleased to hear Mr Giffard’s support for their net zero ambitions.

“We were pleased to meet Tom Giffard MS this week and hear he is supporting our moves to a net zero fleet with £350million invested so far nationally to electrify our depots and buses.

“The arrival of electric buses in Swansea will depend on franchise plans by Transport for Wales (TfW) and Welsh Government, and we’ll continue to work closely with TfW to lend our expertise in this area to help ensure our net‑zero ambitions arrive in the country. We already operate eight electric TrawsCymru buses on the growing T1 service as part of our partnership with TfW.”

Looking ahead

While the timeline for electric buses in Swansea will depend on Welsh Government franchising decisions, both First Cymru and Mr Giffard emphasised the importance of building a transport system that is affordable, reliable and sustainable.

Mr Giffard said he would continue to advocate for improvements and invited Swansea residents to share feedback on issues they want raised.

#busFranchising #electricBus #firstBus #firstCymru #swansea #t1 #tfw #tomGiffardMs #transportForWales #trawsCymru

Local MS visits award-winning Gower Opticians in Penclawdd

Mr Giffard met with a representative from Optometry Wales and staff from Gower Opticians in their practice, to discuss everything from raising awareness around the importance of eye tests for children, to optometry contract reform’s positive impacts on optometrists’ ability to undertake urgent eyecare within the practice, as opposed to another visit to your GP or A&E.

Whilst digitisation is an issue raised consistently across health services in Wales and the practice expressed how revolutionising it would be for them, with paperwork currently having to be shipped off to Cardiff on a weekly basis; Tom has pledged to continue to push for digitalisation across health services in the Welsh Parliament, whilst also praising Gower Opticians for their fantastic work and growth, for the benefit of local people.

Commenting on the visit, Tom said:

“It was great to meet with the team at Gower Opticians recently; their continued work and expansion doesn’t go unnoticed. The plethora of awards along the walls says it all!

“The team have been working towards extra qualifications, so the practice now has a prescribing optician – who works closely with the local pharmacy across the road. Their efforts are not only working to bring down optometry waiting lists but are also alleviating pressure on GP practices and A&E departments – as they can also now also carry out urgent eyecare services.

“I will continue to push for digitalisation across our health services in Wales within the Welsh Parliament, but in the meantime, we will continue to work together to raise awareness over young people receiving regular eye tests and the new urgent eyecare set-up to get local patients seen faster and to help alleviate waiting lists.

“But in the meantime, if you have any eyecare concerns or problems at all, it’s always worth speaking to your local optician first, as they are usually best placed to help!”

Also commenting, award-winning Optometrist at Gower Opticians, Laura Davies, said:

“It was great to welcome Tom to Gower Opticians to promote the wide range of services that optometrists can provide in Wales.

“We are so privileged to be delivering high levels of eyecare in the community for our patients”.

#GowerOpticians #Penclacwydd #TomGiffardMS

Welsh Government launches £33m transition support for farmers at Royal Welsh Show

The Welsh Government has announced a package of measures to support farmers ahead of the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2026, including a new Ready Reckoner tool and £33 million in preparatory funding. The announcement was made by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies at the Royal Welsh Show in Llanelwedd, where he praised farmers as the “backbone of our rural communities.”

The Ready Reckoner, now live on the Welsh Government website, allows farmers to estimate their Universal Payment under the SFS, alongside a tapered Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) value for 2026. The Deputy First Minister said the tool was designed to provide “certainty and stability” and help farmers prepare for the transition.

“The Scheme that I’ve announced is the Scheme that we will introduce in 2026,” said Irranca-Davies. “Farmers and the farming unions have asked us to provide certainty and that is what we have done.”

Nine SFS preparatory schemes will open in the coming weeks, offering funding for nutrient management, environmental improvements, and efficiency equipment. The schemes are part of a wider effort to support farm businesses while delivering environmental benefits such as improved water quality and biodiversity2.

Welsh Conservatives raise concerns over scheme rollout

The announcement has drawn criticism from Welsh Conservative MS Tom Giffard, who said the revised scheme still fails to meet farmers’ needs. Giffard pointed to the 40% cut to the Basic Payment Scheme, double the originally promised reduction, and a lack of an economic impact assessment.

“We don’t know how many farmers will lose out, or lose their jobs entirely, as a result of this scheme,” said Giffard. “Farmers should be paid to do what they do best – farm.”

He also raised concerns about proposed changes to footpath access, including the removal of stiles, which some farmers fear could lead to increased illegal activity on farmland.

The SFS has been under development for several years, with the Welsh Government emphasising its whole farm, whole nation approach. Officials say the scheme is built on extensive consultation and aims to balance food production, climate action, and nature recovery.

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#BasicPaymentScheme #Farming #HuwIrrancaDaviesMS #RoyalWelshShow #SFS #SustainableFarmingScheme #TomGiffardMS #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour

Swansea school attendance under scrutiny as Senedd member calls for urgent action

In a letter sent to Swansea Council, Tom Giffard MS, who represents South Wales West, described the current levels of school absenteeism as “deeply troubling” and called for “immediate and decisive action” to reverse the trend. He highlighted figures showing that unauthorised absences in Swansea’s secondary schools have more than doubled since the 2018/19 academic year.

“Despite repeated warnings, far too many pupils are losing vital classroom time, and alarmingly little has been done to stem the tide,” said Mr Giffard. “Swansea Council must take stronger and more proactive steps to support families and schools in ensuring children are in class.”

But in a detailed response seen by Swansea Bay News, Councillor Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, defended the authority’s approach and praised the efforts of teaching staff during and after the pandemic.

“The pandemic was a significantly disruptive event and I am very proud of the way our teaching staff responded to keep children learning during those challenging times,” said Cllr Stewart. “Their efforts are nothing short of heroic.”

He added that Swansea’s attendance strategy is part of a wider Inclusion Strategy, approved by Cabinet in May 2023, and that attendance rates have been rising steadily since the pandemic. According to StatsWales data, Swansea ranked 5th in Wales for total absence in 2022/23 — an improvement from 7th in 2018/19 — and currently sits just 0.5% below the best performing local authority.

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Cllr Stewart also pointed to national trends, noting that increased absence is a UK-wide issue and that Welsh Government Ministers have acknowledged it will take time to return to pre-Covid levels.

“We remain committed to increasing attendance in Swansea schools,” he said. “We have a dynamic and flexible strategy, and more importantly the momentum, to ensure continued growth in this area.”

The exchange highlights growing political tension over education outcomes in Wales, with absenteeism emerging as a key concern for both local and national policymakers. While Mr Giffard has called for tougher measures, the council insists its collaborative, multi-agency approach is already delivering results.

The debate comes as Swansea continues to invest in its education infrastructure and celebrate pupil achievements. Recent developments include council-backed plans for major upgrades at two secondary schools, and local pupils topping national leaderboards in active travel initiatives.

#CllrRobStewart #education #schoolAbsence #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #TomGiffardMS

Swansea street football tournament tackles social exclusion

Participants came from across Wales to play teams, including players from Swansea, in a unique Street Soccer tournament. Street Football Wales works with players who come from a variety of socially excluded back grounds including players experiencing homelessness, addiction recovery, people with learning difficulties and those experiencing mental health challenges. Through the power of sport, Street Football Wales say they bring people to together to play in a fun and inclusive way, where participation is valued more than performance.

South Wales West MS, Tom Giffard visited the event held on 11 April and congratulated all those that participated in the tournament, as well as Street Football Wales for all the work they do.

Tom Giffard said: “Playing football teaches people from across Wales invaluable skills, and that was clear to see when I visited Street Football Wales’ Inclusion Tournament last week. Crucial life skills like teamwork, as well as social and academic skills are taught brilliantly on the football pitch, which can hopefully be used elsewhere in people’s lives.

“Speaking to many participants, I was in awe at the difference that Street Football Wales was making in the lives of people from the city and across Wales, giving them a sense of belonging and purpose many felt they hadn’t had before.

“I hope that we can build on this success to ensure that more people know that no matter what you’ve been through, there’s always a place for you on the pitch!”

Jamie Grundy, Street Football Wales Director said: “All our players are so pleased to come to Swansea and have a fantastic day of street football together. We remove the barriers to participation for our players, such as putting on transport to bring them here, feed them lunch and we even make sure they have the right footwear to play the game. 

“Through our supportive partners, such as the FAW and Pure Football, we are able to offer fantastic days like this tournament. We are grateful to showcase our work to Tom Giffard MS and explain the difference that we are making to people’s lives, one kick of a ball at a time.”

#addictionRecovery #Clase #football #homelessness #learningDisabilities #mentalHealth #socialExclusion #StreetFootballWales #TomGiffardMS

Tom Giffard named as Tory lead candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe Senedd seat

Tom Giffard has been the incumbent Senedd Member for South Wales West since 2021, and was born and raised in the city, growing up in Penllergaer.

With the Senedd elections just under a year away, the party say that Tom will lead a Welsh Conservative team of candidates for the Gŵyr Abertawe (Gower & Swansea) constituency that will campaign on a platform of “fixing Wales after 25 years of Labour failure”.

Commenting on his selection as the lead candidate, Tom said: “I am honoured and delighted to have been selected by local members from across the city to be the lead Welsh Conservative candidate for Gwyr Abertawe at next year’s crucial Senedd election.

“Many people tell me that after 25 years of Labour running Wales, they feel our country is broken. That’s why the Welsh Conservatives will run on a platform to Fix Wales, with practical solutions to fix our health service, education system and economy.

“I’ve also got a track record of campaigning locally in the city. For example, I’m currently lobbying the Welsh Government to ‘Get Swansea Moving’ after it previously cancelled key M4 junction upgrades in Penllergaer and Ynysforgan. Meanwhile, I’ve helped thousands of constituents over the last four years with individual cases.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to stand up for constituents across the city and hope to be part of a Welsh Conservative Government next year with a plan to fix Wales after 25 years of Labour failure.

Also commenting on Tom’s selection, leader of the Welsh Conservative group in the Senedd, Darren Millar MS, said: “Tom has worked incredibly hard for his constituents since 2021 and is a valued member of the Welsh Conservative team.

I’m delighted that he will be a lead candidate at the next Senedd elections, taking the fight to Labour so we can fix Wales.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have also named their lead candidates for the Senedd election, naming Waterfront ward councillor Sam Bennett for Gŵyr Abertawe, while Party Leader Jane Dodds will head up the Lib Dems list in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency.

#Swansea #TomGiffardMS #WelshConservatives

Swansea MS promoted to shadow cabinet after resigning from COVID committee

Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar announced two changes to his Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Team earlier today (Friday 4 April)

The announcements follow the withdrawal of the Welsh Conservatives from the Wales Covid-19 Inquiry Special Purposes Committee last week when Labour voted to block a request to require some witnesses to the Committee to give evidence under oath.

Former Co-Chair of the Committee, South Wales West MS, Tom Giffard, has been appointed as Shadow Counsel General, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Delivery, External Affairs and the Welsh Language.

Former Welsh Conservative Leader and Preseli Pembrokeshire MS Paul Davies, takes on the new role of Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, in addition to retaining his roles as Chief Whip and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution.

Commenting, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar MS, said: “I am delighted to announce these changes to my Shadow Cabinet team.

“Tom Giffard MS will bring his talent to bear in holding to account the Welsh Labour Government for failing to deliver for the people of Wales.

“And Paul Davies MS will do an excellent job in the new role of Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, bringing his experience to bear in the run up to next year’s Senedd elections.

“Under Labour, Wales is broken. My team offers an alternative government-in-waiting with the talent and solutions Wales needs. We look forward to taking the helm next May.”

Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Paul Davies MS, said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives. 

“I am delighted to be working closely with Darren and our government-in-waiting to fix Wales and deliver a Welsh Conservative Government in the Senedd elections next year.”

Also commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Counsel General, and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Delivery, External Affairs and Welsh Language, Tom Giffard MS, said: “I am proud to be joining Darren Millar’s Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet team as we approach the Senedd elections in 2026.

“Labour has failed Wales. I look forward to working closely with Darren and the rest of the team as we put together our plan to Fix Wales after 26 years of Labour failure.”

#Swansea #TomGiffardMS #WelshConservatives

Swansea MS resigns as Welsh Covid Committee Chair over fears it is ‘protecting the very people it should be holding to account’

The committee, which was established in May 2023, was designed to examine any gaps in the UK Covid Inquiry in a Welsh context, after the Welsh Labour Government refused to establish a Wales-specific independent inquiry, as has happened in Scotland.

However, its future appears uncertain after he resigned as Chair, with the Welsh Conservatives now refusing to take any place on the committee after a dramatic statement in the Senedd by the South Wales West MS.

In a strongly worded statement, Tom Giffard said: “We entered this committee in good faith, hoping that the Welsh Labour Government and Labour members of the committee would honestly want to find answers to the questions that families who have lost loved ones deserve.”

“Instead, I found Labour members were sent to the committee with the specific instruction to block as much scrutiny as possible and remove from us the tools we needed to do the job, such as asking for sworn oaths to be given when Ministers would give evidence.”

Giffard added: “Mark Drakeford used to say during the pandemic that ‘In Wales, we do things differently.’ That was his right. But that also means his decisions need to be examined, just as they are in England and Scotland.

“Instead, Welsh Labour want all of the power and none of the responsibility; shirking from scrutiny and setting up a kangaroo court, intent on protecting the very people it should be holding to account.

“I refused to risk my reputation chairing a committee which would have been nothing but a whitewash of the truths. That’s why my party has withdrawn from this committee and will redouble our efforts towards securing a Wales-specific Covid inquiry, so people who have lost loved ones can get the answers they deserve.”

Labour’s Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt said the Tories’ calls for witnesses to take an oath were “concerning” and witnesses may feel compelled to seek legal advice.

#COVID #CovidInquiry #TomGiffardMS #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment

Welsh Government says it will look again at Swansea M4 junction improvements

Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, questioned the First Minister in the Senedd on Tuesday about the package of improvements once promised by Welsh Labour for Swansea junctions along the M4, which were then cancelled by Labour in 2023.

The much-needed projects, would have seen improvements made at M4 junctions, including 45 (Ynysforgan) and 47 (Penllergaer) – which are grid-locked daily, causing long delays and nightmare journeys for the hundreds of commuters using the M4 every day.

But in an exchange this week in the Senedd, Tom Giffard MS called on the First Minister to look again at the cancellation of the projects; and in turn, the First Minister agreed to ask her Transport Cabinet Secretary, Ken Skates, to look at what could be done.

In a debate in the Senedd, Tom Giffard MS asked the First Minister about the cancelled M4 junction upgrade projects at junction 45 at Ynysforgan and junction 47 at Penllergaer.

Mr Giffard said that “a study in 2017 showed that the M4 could come to a standstill around 30 times in a day, and these junction upgrades were absolutely crucial to ensure that we keep Wales and our M4—our main arterial road—moving.”

He asked the First Minister “can I have an assurance from you that you will look again at these junction upgrade projects around Swansea, to see whether they can be brought back under your leadership?”

Responding, First Minister Eluned Morgan replied that “it is important to make sure we keep the traffic flowing, and that’s why there have been methods to introduce speeding limits, for example, to make sure that the flow just continues, and you don’t get that stop start that annoys us all.”

She added that “In relation to the junction upgrades, I have heard the frustrations for many people in those areas, and I’ll ask the Transport Secretary to look into that.”

Commenting on the exchange, Tom Giffard MS, said: “In true Welsh Labour style, all investment into new roads in Wales were stopped in 2023, unless they moved people away from cars and onto public and active forms of transport.

“This meant that much-needed projects such as junction improvements on key Swansea junctions such as Penllergaer and Ynysforgan were shelved too.

“This news came on the heels of the previous decision by the Welsh Government to cancel the M4 relief road project in Newport too, causing gridlock on Wales’ most valuable road.

“I’m delighted that the First Minister has now confirmed that the Welsh Government will now look again and re-visit these crucial Swansea junction projects, and I’ll be keeping up the pressure to make sure they happen!”

(Lead image: Traffic Wales)

#ElunedMorganMS #Junction45 #Junction47 #M4 #motoring #Swansea #TomGiffardMS #traffic #WelshConservatives #WelshGovernment