Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

Tomorrow Ieuan Wyn Jones our party Leader is visiting us on the campaign trail in Neath. We are visiting a local business, Menter Cyf to talk to the staff there about their work and how they are doing during this difficult economic time, and then we will be popping over to the train station to make a statement about Plaid’s transport priorities for the next five years of the Assembly. We have been working hard on the campaign here in Neath over the past weeks. We were within 2,000 of beating Labour in 2007, and I believe that we can do very well in this election. Alun Llewelyn is a talented and experienced politician. He has represented Ystalyfera effectively, and is the party’s economic spokesperson on Neath Port Talbot Council, where Plaid are the main opposition party.We are getting a good reaction when knocking on doors also, and campaigning in the sun has been exceptional! Its true to say that many people are not impressed with the UK government, but many of them have seen what Plaid have done over the last 4 years, and are pleased with what we are offering in this election. In 2007 we had never been in government before as a party, and I think this election has given us a foot up in that people can now realistically  envisage Plaid in government, and working on their behalf. In 2007, I had a lot of ‘well, you’ve never been in power so we don’t know what you will do’ type of responses, a bit of uncertainty if I’m honest. Whereas this time, people recognise the work that we’ve done on a National level, and in holding Neath Port Talbot’s Labour Council to account for their plans to change the working conditions and cut pay in the public sector, to proposing closing popular schools in the Swansea Valley, to the issues surrounding stock transfer in the area. Of course, we are hoping to build our support in this area, especially as we are hoping to gain ground in next year’s council election.

Tomorrow night I will be on the panel at the PCS hustings in Swansea. I’ve supported the Union for some time, especially in relation to the potential privatisation of DfT jobs in Swansea Vale, and the uncertainty surrounding the potential impact of UK government cuts to the public sector in an area like Swansea which is currently so reliant on public sector jobs.I’m looking forward to debating the issues, and to hearing what people present want to see the next Welsh Government deliver on in relation to this sector.