Sean Morgan, former leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, has shocked the political landscape with a thunderous departure from the Labour Party. After 40 years of commitment, Morgan announced his resignation with a blistering critique of the party’s current direction. Accusing Labour of losing touch with its grassroots and failing to uphold election promises, he didn’t hold back, even calling the party “complicit in genocide” in the Middle East.
Morgan’s decision comes amid controversy over the candidate selection for the upcoming Senedd by-election in Caerphilly. Labour’s choice of Welsh language publisher Richard Tunnicliffe over local figure Jamie Pritchard has raised eyebrows, with Morgan slamming the selection process as a “fix”. He revealed he will now support Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle to succeed the late Hefin David as Caerphilly’s representative.
In a series of heated exchanges, Morgan clashed with First Minister Eluned Morgan and former MP Sir Wayne David, describing the candidate selection rules as arbitrarily bent. He even compared Welsh Labour’s general secretary to Malcolm Tucker, the famously bullish political spin doctor from “The Thick of It.”
As tensions flared, Morgan also criticised Caerphilly’s current MP Chris Evans for being absent and accused the party of failing its Westminster obligations, particularly regarding winter fuel support.
Despite his departure, Morgan remains committed to advocating for the people of Caerphilly, vowing to back Plaid Cymru. He praised Whittle as a “man of the people” with a genuine dedication to the community.
Labour has since responded, expressing their focus on delivering for Caerphilly and maintaining that their selection processes are thorough and fair.
Morgan’s parting shot? “I have to leave the Labour Party – but the truth is the Labour Party has left me.” The political waters of Caerphilly have never been more tumultuous.