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.
