Political parties in Wales have officially launched their General Election campaigns after Parliament was dissolved on March 30.
The election, on May 7, is tipped to be one of the most closely contested ever and is seen to be a two-horse race for Prime Minister between Labour’s Ed Miliband and the current PM David Cameron, with a hung parliament likely.
Speaking on the campaign trail in West Wales on March 31, Wales’ First Minister, Labour’s Carwyn Jones, urged people not to vote for smaller parties.
Mr Jones said: “There is a simple choice facing voters in the next few weeks – a UK Government led by Labour, or the Tories.
“A vote cast for any other party but Labour increases the chances of another Tory Government.
“My message to those people thinking about voting for one of the smaller parties is this: we share your belief that the Tories have been a disaster for Wales, and the best chance we have of kicking them out is by supporting their only serious challenger in this election and that’s Labour.
“A healthy showing for the Greens, Liberals or Plaid is going to do nothing to improve this country, if it means letting the Tories form the next UK Government.”
Launching Plaid Cymru’s manifesto, leader Leanne Wood said the party would secure equal funding for Wales compared with Scotland, end austerity and permanently rebalance the economy.
Ms Wood said: “The four Westminster leaders offer us nothing more than further swingeing cuts to our public services and no commitment to securing an economic recovery for all.
“There will very likely be another hung parliament in May and the direction of the next government could come down to how strong a presence Plaid Cymru secures in Parliament at the election.
“If Plaid Cymru holds the balance of power, we’ll rebalance power and wealth throughout the UK. Away from the financial sector in the City of London and to communities such as those in Wales who need investment.
“We will fight for Wales every day and secure equality for our country with the other nations of the UK so we have the tools and the resources to unleash Wales’ economic potential and work towards world-class public services.”
The Welsh Conservatives claimed a Labour Government would let Wales down, while Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg claimed Labour have a “poverty of ambition”.
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said: “Welsh Conservatives have a proud record in Wales. After five years in Government, we’ve put Wales back on the pathway to prosperity with more people in jobs, wages rising and record investment in Wales.
“We’re not going to let Labour put all of this at risk. We need to make clear that the only way to secure the economic recovery for Wales is to return Welsh Conservatives to Parliament in six weeks’ time. We need to make 2015 the year that Wales lets go of Labour.”
Mr Clegg said: “Both Labour and the Tories are a threat to our strong economic recovery. The Tories want to cut, cut and cut – not because they have to but because they want to. Labour’s addiction to borrowing and debt will risk our recovery.
“Put simply: the Liberal Democrats will borrow less than Labour and cut less than the Conservatives – guaranteeing an economy that delivers for everyone across the UK.”
Nominations for the General Election close on April 9 but a number of candidates have been confirmed for the three constituencies that cover Caerphilly County Borough.
Standing in Caerphilly are Alladin Ayesh for the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party’s Katy Beddoe, Labour’s Wayne David, Jaime Davies for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Conservative Leo Docherty, Ukip’s Sam Gould and Beci Newton for Plaid Cymru.
In Islwyn, Lyn Ackerman is standing for Plaid Cymru, Brendan D’Cruz for the Liberal Democrats, Chris Evans for Labour, Laura Jones for the Conservatives, Joshua Rawcliffe for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Joe Smyth for Ukip, and Peter Varley for the Green Party.
Standing in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney are Eddy Blanche as an Independent, Gerald Jones for Labour, Bob Griffin for the Liberal Democrats, Robert David Griffiths for the Communist Party of Britain, the Green Party’s Elspeth Parris, Conservative Bill Rees, and Ukip’s David Rowlands.
Caerphilly Observer will be profiling the candidates in the coming weeks.
My hopes for the election:
1. Nigel Farage becomes an MP.
2. UKIP is third according to voting share.
3. Plaid Cymru lose their base in Wales, falling to hopefully fourth place.
4. The Greens lose their only seat.
5. The Conservative have more votes and seats than Labour.
6. Ed Miliband is forced to resign.
7. The ideas of socialism, Labour, Green’s, and Lib Dem’s favourite buzzword ‘equality’, and tax increases for the wealthy are thrown into the long grass.
I would certainly vote for 1 – 4 inclusive in your list Dean.
I note that there was no room in the article for UKIP to explain their policy locally, either from David Rowlands (S. East Wales Branch) or local candidate Sam Gould. You may be interested to hear that in the 2014 election, in Caerffili, Plaid Cymru achieved 5,392 votes, Liberal Democrats 671, Conservatives 3434.
UKIP, which did not merit a mention, received 11,809 votes. The numbers speak for themselves!
I knew UKIP did well in the election in Caerphilly but I did not know it was that well compared to the rest.
If I was to extend my list, I would like to see Wayne David lose his seat to Sam Gould or a right-of-centre independent but the Labour stronghold in Caerphilly is strong, especially when there’s a Tory government. However, I did some research on the Labour figure and there’s a 2444 difference in votes for UKIP to overturn in Caerphilly provided they hold their votes. It is not beyond all possibilities to see a UKIP win. Hopefully it is raining on the day as research shows Labour voters are less likely to vote.
I’m sure the Laybaaaa voters will follow each other down to the polling station and put their cross in the Labour box, because their parents and their grandparents did, let’s face it a Labour voter would vote for a carboard cut out if it had a red rosette pinned to it, and so Sillyband and Jimmy Krankey will form the next government and Wales will be ruled by the SNP…..heaven help us.
It is a shame the £10 migration offer to Australia no longer exists.
I’ve always wanted to stand outside the polling station and see how many people voting for a party know what the party stands for.
If I could convince her indoors to go I would be there already
Dean, it is even tighter than that. The 2014 European election results reported were for the entire Caerphilly County Borough Council area not just the Caerphilly Parliamentary Constituency. I have done some analysis looking at prior local election results reported at the electoral district level and in particular the historic distribution of Plaid and Labour voters across the County. What I discovered is that within the Parliamentary Constituency there is a swing from Labour to Plaid of around 7%. If the 2014 European Election results had been reported for the Parliamentary Constituency only, I estimate that UKIP would have received 5950, Labour 5550 and Plaid 3530. So Caerphilly can be won by UKIP next month.
My hopes for the election:
1. Nigel Farage becomes an MP.
2. UKIP is third according to voting share.
3. Plaid Cymru lose their base in Wales, falling to hopefully fourth place.
4. The Greens lose their only seat.
5. The Conservative have more votes and seats than Labour.
6. Ed Miliband is forced to resign.
7. The ideas of socialism, Labour, Green’s, and Lib Dem’s favourite buzzword ‘equality’, and tax increases for the wealthy are thrown into the long grass.
I would certainly vote for 1 – 4 inclusive in your list Dean.
I note that there was no room in the article for UKIP to explain their policy locally, either from David Rowlands (S. East Wales Branch) or local candidate Sam Gould. You may be interested to hear that in the 2014 election, in Caerffili, Plaid Cymru achieved 5,392 votes, Liberal Democrats 671, Conservatives 3434.
UKIP, which did not merit a mention, received 11,809 votes. The numbers speak for themselves!
I knew UKIP did well in the election in Caerphilly but I did not know it was that well compared to the rest.
If I was to extend my list, I would like to see Wayne David lose his seat to Sam Gould or a right-of-centre independent but the Labour stronghold in Caerphilly is strong, especially when there’s a Tory government. However, I did some research on the Labour figure and there’s a 2444 difference in votes for UKIP to overturn in Caerphilly provided they hold their votes. It is not beyond all possibilities to see a UKIP win. Hopefully it is raining on the day as research shows Labour voters are less likely to vote.
I’m sure come rain or shine the Laybaaaa voters will follow each other down to the polling station and put their cross in the Labour box, because their parents and their grandparents did, let’s face it a Labour voter would vote for a carboard cut out if it had a red rosette pinned to it, and so Sillyband and Jimmy Krankie will form the next U.K government and Wales will be ruled by the SNP…..heaven help us.
It is a shame the £10 migration offer to Australia no longer exists.
I’ve always wanted to stand outside the polling station and see how many people voting for a party know what the party stands for.
If I could convince her indoors to go I would be there already
Dean, it is even tighter than that. The 2014 European election results reported were for the entire Caerphilly County Borough Council area not just the Caerphilly Parliamentary Constituency. I have done some analysis looking at prior local election results reported at the electoral district level and in particular the historic distribution of Plaid and Labour voters across the County. What I discovered is that within the Parliamentary Constituency there is a swing from Labour to Plaid of around 7%. If the 2014 European Election results had been reported for the Parliamentary Constituency only, I estimate that UKIP would have received 5950, Labour 5550 and Plaid 3530. So Caerphilly can be won by UKIP next month.
These are the rights of the indigenous Brit.
Time for the silent majority to awake and put an end to the desecration of our country and culture, and the gross abuse of our hospitality.
Demand redress, as is you right !
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Article 8
1. Indigenous individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.
2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for:
a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
c) Any form of forced population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration;
e) Any form of propaganda designed to promote or incite racial or ethnic discrimination against them.
Vote UKIP!
These are the rights of the indigenous Brit.
Time for the silent majority to awake and put an end to the desecration of our country and culture, and the gross abuse of our hospitality.
Demand redress, as is your right !
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Article 8
1. Indigenous individuals have the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.
2. States shall provide effective mechanisms for prevention of, and redress for:
a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities;
b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources;
c) Any form of forced population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights;
d) Any form of forced assimilation or integration;
e) Any form of propaganda designed to promote or incite racial or ethnic discrimination against them.
Vote UKIP!
The valleys will vote for a donkey if you put a red jacket on it and often do. They always remind me of the Judean peoples front. Talk, talk and more talk.
The valleys will vote for a donkey if you put a red jacket on it and often do. They always remind me of the Judean peoples front. Talk, talk and more talk.