My analysis of the Rhoose by-election and other thoughts

Readers, the results of the Rhoose by-election, the only British local by-election taking place on Valentine's Day, were as follows:

Vale of Glamorgan UA, Rhoose: Conservative 1140 (61.5%, +19.0%), Labour 368 (19.9%,-3.2%), Independent 345 (18.6%). [Other Independents and Liberal Democrats did not stand]

The former leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh Assembly, Andrew Robert Tudor (RT) Davies, was the successful Conservative candidate and his name recognition proved crucial in that by-election. Local renown is more important than party label in non-urban Wales and Rhoose is no exception. Given this factor the Independent's performance is commendable.

Earlier today, children proved that just because they are not yet old enough to vote does not mean that politicians can ignore them by any means, especially since many children who went on climate strikes will be old enough to vote at the next general election or the one after next. They will be the ones feeling the effects of man-made climate change the most, we must listen to them just like everyone else who is aware of climate change. This letter from a 17 year old is one that stands out: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/15/school-climate-strike-classroom-climate-change?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR31aWYT8jNT8Cqsi7eCMKJbylnB7tdgdKcH68087GmdTI8Se1KHkAuTg5k

Let us also pay tribute to novelist Andrea Levy, who has died of cancer at the age of 62. Andrea will be most remembered for her novels Small Island and Long Long Song, which covered experiences of the Windrush generation of Afro-Caribbean British people and opened people's minds to the importance of appreciating the perceptions and experiences of other cultures.

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