Being
a Plaid member opens your eyes to the fact that we are indisputably one nation,
undivided, north; south; east and west are simply compass bearings.
The
map simply goes up and down... even if the A470 can feel like it goes on
forever.
Plaid
Cymru – The Party of Wales, is the only party that puts Wales first all the
time, we are not answerable to any Westminster based political masters, we are
not running a branch office.
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| "Labour are indifferent to the interest of the people in Newport and the nation. It's time for Plaid." |
Our
communities face similar problems, the loss of green space, over development, a
shortage of affordable housing and sustainable long-term jobs and opportunities.
In
Newport we have a self-serving ruling clique that locally mirrors the Welsh
Labour government’s indifference to our national and local interests...
Save
for public opinion, the Newport ship would be matchwood, the transporter bridge
scrap iron, Tredegar House a ruin, and there would be an inner city ring road.
We
need to make politics work again, and that starts with making people’s
day-to-day lives better.
Plaid
does not, cannot and never will write people and communities off, we can think
and act for all of Cymru / Wales, all of the time.
We
have always wanted our country back, we have not lost our way or an Empire, nor
struggled to find a role.
Our
focus has always been Wales and the people who live here.
Most
of us do not wish to live in some nostalgia drenched fantasy island bedecked
with ermine, baubles, gongs and trinkets.
We
look forwards to living in a prosperous outward looking nation, one that has
much to offer the world.
We
recognize that we have to start from the bottom up and that it will be hard
work, even the work of years…
Our
communities are the literal fabric of our nation - they are the safety net that
supports our most vulnerable and give us a sense of place and belonging.
Our
planning system and our local government, remains largely nineteenth century in
structure and outlook, it does not recognise for our national interests, and
with a few exceptions does not recognise the realities of devolution.
Here
in SE Gwent, much of the proposed housing in various UDPs (in Newport, Torfaen
and Monmouthshire) remains focused on the projected housing shortfall in
Bristol.
No
offence intended, but that is not our problem.
The
Severn Bridge tolls, remain a tax on jobs, on businesses and long suffering
commuters.
The
failure to invest in infrastructure, stalling over the metro, and the often-dreadful
rolling stock used by ArrivaTrainsWales can make the M4 the longest linear car
park in Western Europe.
The
problems of the M4 are actually a symptom of economic weakness!
Successive
Welsh governments (and the Welsh office) been content to live with a Welsh
economy that is so weak that many thousands of our compatriots make daily treks
across the Severn Bridges to earn their daily bread - and pay for the privilege.
Our
focus should be on developing small to medium size local enterprises. SMEs create
wealth, employment opportunities and trade with each other. They are unlikely to
leave for fresh development grants elsewhere.
If
we are serious about changing our country for the better, it starts at a local
level. Simply replacing the Labour Party with some sort of Labour Party lite is
not acceptable.
We
have to show people we are different, we will listen, we will be accountable;
we will deliver on our commitments. Only then can change our communities and
our nation for the better.
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If
not now? Then when? If not us? Then who?
