I THOUGHT I COULD COMPLAIN ABOUT THINGS OR GO OUT AND GET INVOLVED

Reform UK candidate, 20, becomes local authority's youngest ever councillor

- LEWIS SMITH Local democracy reporter

A SHOCK council by-election result has made a small piece of history in one part of South Wales with the area’s youngest ever councillor being elected.

Reform UK candidate Owain Clatworthy, aged just 20, was voted in to represent the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr ward in Bridgend county borough in May, after the resignation of former Labour councillor Mike Kearn.

He clinched the win with a narrow margin of just 30 votes on the night, edging out the second-placed Labour candidate Gary Chappell.

His election came just weeks before the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, visited the nearby town of Port Talbot to kick-start the party's Senedd election campaign, claiming they expected to not only win seats, but to also win enough to govern Wales.

The latest council vote now makes Owain the youngest ever member in the borough of Bridgend since it was formed in April 1996.

He says he is eager to represent residents in his local ward to the best of his ability.

Cllr Clatworthy told us living in care for more than 10 years of his life proved your past doesn’t define your future.