Pounding the streets for Plaid
Posted on Friday, April 9, 2010 at 10:16pm
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AS YOU might expect, I have been out on the campaign trail with various Plaid Cymru candidates in the South Wales West Region. Undoubtedly, there are very local issues that people are passionate about, and that we hope Plaid are addressing on certain levels – be it on a local council or National Assembly level. But one thing that is common is the frustration that many people have shown towards the Labour party, and how it no longer represents their values.
This often comes from former members, or as I have experienced recently, some current Labour party members, although they don’t wish to identify themselves in case – and I quote – the “Labour party mafia” finds out. What sort of a party can Labour now be if its members feel that they cannot criticise it for fear that someone will have a go at them, or make a point of targeting them?
Many people we met actually wanted to take a Plaid poster, but felt reluctant to do so as they told us that in recent years, when they had done so, they had been intimidated. If this is true, then it is a very sad state of affairs when people can’t feel free to express their own political opinion openly.
I’m all in favour of fighting against other political parties during an election, but I want this to be done so fairly. If people are fed up of Labour, Plaid, the Lib Dems or the Tories, then they should be able to say so.
Yes, people on the doorstep are annoyed with the MPs’ expenses scandal. But once you get talking to them, and inform them that there are politicians out there doing it for the right reasons, who want to change thing s for the better, then you can sense them warming to you, or at least considering the fact that there is a reason to vote.
We can introduce all the exciting policies we want, but unless people trust us, have faith in us, then the policies become secondary. Getting past the first boundary that people put up just because you are a politician is a challenge in itself, and a challenge we will all face until the system is cleaned up for good.
I am looking forward to the campaigning, to getting out there speaking to people. I do this on a regular basis anyway through my surgeries and street surgeries, but during election time, it is clear that the electorate are looking for people that can reflect their opinions, their voices, as opposed to taking them for granted as Labour in the Neath area has done over the years. Of course I hope that people support Plaid Cymru in this General election, but even if people just get out there and vote, I will be content.
