Bangor councillor and first openly non-binary mayor Owen Hurcum joins the Breakthrough Party

A city councillor and the world’s first openly non-binary city mayor has joined a new political party which they say is the only one in the UK that is “fundamentally progressive on all fronts”.

Owen Hurcum, mayor of Bangor, Wales, has been an independent councillor since May 2021 after leaving Plaid Cymru over concerns about transphobia.

At a glance: 5 key points

• Owen Hurcum, 24, who currently serves as a city councillor and as mayor of Bangor, has announced that they have joined the Breakthrough Party.
• Hurcum is the first openly non-binary mayor of any city world-wide and the youngest person in history to hold a mayoral position in Wales. 
• Previously a member of Plaid Cymru, they resigned from the party in March 2021 due to concerns around transphobia and have since sat on Bangor Council as an independent. 
• Breakthrough is a youth-led democratic socialist party founded in January 2021 which describes itself as ‘a new home for those determined to disrupt the failed status quo and build an alternative: a society that uses its considerable wealth to provide dignity, security and justice for all.’ 
• The party has three sitting councillors, all of whom defected from Labour in 2021, and earlier this month it signed an agreement with other left-wing parties including the Northern Independence Party, forming a political coalition known as the People’s Alliance of the Left (PAL)

What’s been said?

Explaining their decision, Owen Hurcum said: "I have previously said that there is no party in the UK that is fundamentally progressive on all fronts; this, however, is not the case.

“Having researched Breakthrough and spoken with their leaders, I see this party as the future of the progressive left and it is one I couldn’t help but want to be involved with.

“Breakthrough stands for what all progressive parties should strive for: not just ousting the Tories but getting socialists in at all levels of government. I’m excited to be a part of this party and that process.”

Alex Mays, founder and leader of the Breakthrough Party, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Owen has joined Breakthrough and put their faith in our party.

“Owen’s work over the years has been inspirational, having touched the lives of countless LGBTQ+ people in Wales and beyond with their vocal advocacy for the community and showing that queer people can achieve big in politics.

“Owen has already achieved so much in their time as mayor and city councillor for Bangor and I can’t wait to see what they do next!”