JEREMY CORBYN visited Llanelli on Thursday (Mar 10).
He began with a visit to Trostre steel works, where he was joined by Nia Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.
During a tour of the plant they met with TATA managers and union representatives to discuss the challenges facing the steel industry.
Speaking after the visit, Nia Griffith told us: “I was very pleased that Jeremy accepted my invitation to visit the TATA plant in Trostre. The future of our steel industry is vitally important to us and the visit was an opportunity to hear directly from workers about the real challenges facing the industry.”
Speaking about the concerns of workers the Llanelli MP said: “During our visit we toured the plant and met many of the men and women who work there. It was clear from our discussions with representatives from the Unite and Community trade unions that the workforce has real concerns about the future of the sector.”
Commenting on what the shadow ministers were planning to do to address a number of issues affecting the steel industry, Nia Griffith told The Herald: “Jeremy and I discussed the pressure that Labour MPs are putting on the Government to tackle the dumping of cheap Chinese steel. This is an issue that Jeremy raised directly with the Chinese President during his recent state visit and our Labour MEPs are taking this work forward at a European level. We absolutely believe that the industry has a bright future but the UK Government must do so much more to make that happen.”
Following the visit to Trostre, Mr Corbyn attended a press conference at the Wesleyan Chapel in Morfa where he spoke to local journalists about his visit and issues around the steel industry. Mr Corbyn then went on to Burry Port to attend a Labour Party fund raising dinner as guest speaker.
During the evening Mr Corbyn walked around the room stopping to speak to people young and old chatting informally about a number of issues and having selfies including one with Gower College student Leah Lane.
Another student, Alice Lee, spoke to Mr Corbyn. Alice told us: “We are organising an open day to make students aware of the EU referendum. I invited him along. He is pretty busy so I am not sure he will come.”
Mr Corbyn’s after dinner speech included tributes to former Llanelli MP Denzil Davies, the outgoing Llanelli AM Keith Davies, Llanelli’s MP, Nia Griffith, and he wished all the Labour candidates well in their elections.
The Labour leader told his audience that there were some big battles ahead and he joked about the slim margin, which saw Keith Davies beating Helen Mary Jones. The Labour leader observed: “You must be nervous every time you see a bus full of 80 people passing by.”
He told the guests that the future of the steel industry was in the balance and that he wanted to see a manufacturing industry renaissance. He said the issues facing the Assembly included health and he praised the Welsh NHS.
Commenting on education he said he wanted people to achieve the very best in their lives saying that the Tories only understand markets whereas Labour understand education and learning.
Mr Corbyn told his audience that there was a mental health crisis across the UK. He said he believed that the best thing to do was to appoint a cabinet member for mental health solely to deal with mental health.
Addressing the refugee crisis that has stricken Europe and the Middle East, the Labour leader affirmed his belief that the UK should be prepared to offer support for those fleeing from war torn countries.
He received a standing ovation as he left the stage.
A raffle and auction followed with Mr Corbyn roped in to auction a football signed by the Swansea City players.
During the auction he played around with the football and mentioned the fact that Swansea had beaten his beloved Arsenal a couple of times. At one point AM candidate Lee Waters threw the ball to Mr Corbyn who promptly ‘headed’ the ball back to him. Mr Corbyn continued to speak to guests throughout the evening.
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