A vote of no confidence in Pembrokeshire County Council Leader David Simpson has narrowly failed.

Cllr Simpson faced a no confidence call at a meeting taking place on Thursday morning, May 18.

An Extraordinary Meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, on Thursday May 18, considered a Notice of Motion of no confidence in the Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor David Simpson.

The Notice of Motion was submitted by Councillor Jamie Adams on behalf of the Independent Group, with Newport and Dinas Independent Group member Cllr Huw Murphy nominated as his replacement if the no-confidence call is carried.

Lampeter Velfrey councillor Cllr Simpson beacame leader in 2017, after leaving the-then ruling IPPG group  after losing confidence in the way cabinet was being run by Cllr Jamie Adams, the leader at the time.

Cllr Adams’ notice simply read: “We hereby give formal notice of submitting a Notice of Motion of no confidence in the Leader.”

The no-confidence vote was 29 for, and 31 against.

Prior to the vote, Cllr Simpson had reacted to the no-confidence call by saying: “We have brought democracy back into the Chamber and moved away from shabby deals done behind closed doors and from senior officers leading members by the nose, backed by the old and unaccountable Independent Political Group bloc vote.

“This administration can be proud that we have worked hard to sort out the finances, left in a mess by the [previous ruling group].

"We’re rebuilding council services, creating the infrastructure we need for the future, and regenerating Pembrokeshire’s economy; all of which the Independent Group neglected for 20 years and which they would jeopardise in the future.

“I don’t believe there’s any desire to go back to those days, either among my fellow councillors or more importantly amongst the public in Pembrokeshire.”