IN 2015, INCUMBENT MP Nia Griffith is defending a majority over Plaid Cymru of 4,700 votes. The Labour front bench spokesperson has gained a reputation for straight-talking and hard-working both in the Commons and in her constituency.
Speaking about the programme that Labour promises to deliver, Nia Griffith said: “The Labour Party is the only party which is big enough to offer voters in Llanelli a new Prime Minister, Ed Miliband, and a genuine alternative UK Government to David Cameron’s failed Conservatives, with their plans for massive cuts. With 650 MPs in Westminster, the smallest parties like Plaid with three MPs or the Greens with one, simply cannot make a difference.”
Focusing on the importance of the European issue, Ms Griffith went on to say: “Many jobs here in Llanelli depend on big companies which also have factories elsewhere in Europe. A Labour government in Westminster will give those companies absolute certainty that we will remain in the European Union, so that they have the confidence to invest in our factories here. If they see parties and voters clamouring for the UK to exit the European Union, they will be likely to switch valuable investment to their factories on mainland Europe, with very serious knock-on effects for jobs here in Llanelli.”
She continued: “Only a Labour UK Government can stand up for the people of Llanelli, securing fair funding for Wales, protecting our frontline services and growing an economy which works for all, not just the privileged few. We will raise the minimum wage, outlaw abusive zero-hours contracts, cut taxes for low and middle earners, with a lower 10p starting rate, provide more free childcare for working parents, protect the pension and abolish the bedroom tax. We will reverse the Tory tax cuts for millionaires and clamp down on tax avoidance. We believe Britain only succeeds when people in Llanelli succeed. “On the impact of national policies at a local level, the shadow minister was forthright: “A Labour Governmental UK level will help our businesses in Llanelli Town Centre by lowering business rates and then freezing them, to reflect the very different economic circumstances from when the current rates were set.
We will tackle the cost of living crisis for householders in Llanelli and help our local businesses by implementing an immediate freeze on energy prices for businesses and domestic customers, with a tough new watchdog to force energy companies to lower prices when wholesale prices fall. “Tackling the issue of the NHS’future, Ms Griffith concluded: “With a Labour Government in Westminster, our Labour Welsh Government will invest an extra £500m in the Welsh health service, and train an extra1,000 doctors, nurses and health professionals in shortage areas. I have fought vigorously to keep services at Prince Philip Hospital, and, whilst welcoming confirmation from Welsh Health Minister Mark Drakeford that our accident and emergency services at Prince Philip will be clinically led by doctors, I will continue to fight hard to maintain and improve as wide range of services at our Hospital aspossible.”
33 year-old teacher Vaughan Williams is Plaid’s candidate. Declaring him proud of his working class roots, the Plaid candidate has attracted attention for crowd-funding part of his campaign. Plaid’s national leadership have certainly been making encouraging noises about their candidate’s chances. Mr Williams identified Llanelli’s town centre as a key issue for this election: “To secure a strong future for our Town Centre, Plaid Cymric would cut business rates to all firms with rateable value of £15,000 or less.
This would benefit 80% of all businesses in Wales. By lowering rents, this will attract more shops to Llanelli creating jobs and rebuilding our fragile economy. “Mr Williams added: “The Eastgate development is to be welcomed but further regeneration is needed for the whole Town Centre to benefit. “Speaking of his experience as former cleaner in the NHS, Vaughan Williams said: “I believe strongly that Llanelli residents need and must have access to a first rate EService on their doorsteps.
While the Tories are privatising our NH Sin England, Labour are in charge of our NHS in Wales and therefore responsible for the reduction in our emergency services here in Llanelli. Plaid Cymric is committed to saving and strengthening our NHS, we would recruit an extra 1000 doctors across Wales in order to protect local services, to reduce waiting times and improve access to GP’s.
It’s time to put patients first. “He concluded: “Llanelli needs and deserves an MP who will always put Llanelli before London and Wales before Westminster. Only by supporting the Party of Wales can we move forward to creating a stronger and fairer nation. “The intervention of three other left parties and uncertainty about from whom they will take their votes adds to the volatile mix, while Selaine Saxby is doing her best to raise the Conservative profile locally.
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