In a his final Caerphilly Observer blog as Assembly Member for Caerphilly, Jeff Cuthbert looks back on his 13 years as AM, and towards the changing landscape in Wales.
Nostalgia
Today marks my final day, after 13 years, as the Assembly Member for the Caerphilly Constituency. It’s been an honour and a privilege to serve the people that I live amongst.
Looking back, I can’t help but wonder at the speed with which time has passed as well as the achievements that devolution has brought to this Constituency and Wales as a whole.
I am unashamedly a Socialist and an Internationalist. I will always believe that we achieve more through cooperation than competition. Welsh Labour does not have a perfect record (no organisation does) but being a party of Government in incredibly difficult financial times hasn’t been easy. I’m convinced that in terms of protecting and advancing the interests of the people of Wales, Welsh Labour offers the best choice for voters at this coming Assembly election.
Over the last 13 years we’ve seen, locally, the construction of Angel Way in Bargoed, the new hospital at Ystrad Mynach (a very well used facility despite some criticisms), a new railway station at Energlyn and Churchill Park, several new health centres and enhanced existing practices, new schools built under the 21st Century School programme, as well as an extensive programme to bring the stock of social housing up to a much higher standard.
In terms of Wales wide initiatives that Labour has created and developed (and that I have had a hand in directly) we have the very successful Jobs Growth Wales with over 17,000 job placements created for 16 – 24 year olds, our expanded Apprenticeship Programme (with 100,000 additional places if Welsh Labour is returned to Government) and the generation of tens of thousands of jobs as a result of our successful use of European Structural Funds. Indeed if Wales had not been able to benefit from our membership of the European Union then we would have missed out.
Decisions
I’m very worried about the impact on us in Wales if the UK votes to leave the EU. This matter is extremely serious and people must consider the impact of withdrawal on jobs, and our economy more generally, very carefully.
Naturally, as we approach the last few weeks before the Assembly elections, the opposition parties will make all sorts of criticisms about Welsh Labour’s record and they will make extravagant promises about what they will do if elected. I will leave it to the good sense of local people to examine these claims and decide just how viable these promises are.
Another “line of attack” often used by opposition parties is to take up local controversial issues which they claim to oppose. The very same parties often fail to offer any alternatives to these local issues and people should take much of these attacks with a large pinch of salt and remember that the real motivation is likely to be electoral gain rather than principled objection.
Just contrast the stance taken by Carwyn Jones and the Welsh Government when compared to the UK Tory Government on steel. Welsh Labour stands shoulder to shoulder with the steel workers and their families. We’re working closely with the Trade Unions to find a solution which could include nationalisation despite the obvious hostility of the Tories. We’re prepared to work with anyone that has the best interests of our steel communities at heart.
I will, of course, not be my Party’s Candidate on May 5th. Welsh Labour will be represented by Dr Hefin David. I’ve known Hefin for many years. He’s a local man who knows the constituency very well. I have absolutely no doubt that he is the best person to continue to represent the interests of our people at the National Assembly. He has my 100% support.
The Ystrad Fawr white elephant is not a hospital Jeff, though one was promised when the Miners closed. Hospitals have doctors in them, hospitals can treat broken bones, hospitals have operating theatres. The Ystrad Fawr set up is a very nice clinic with facilities for extanded stays.
Oh yes Jeff, Labour stands shoulder to shoulder with the steel workers and their families, but they’ll do nothing whatsoever about it, mean-while over at the airport that Welsh Labour forked out £50million to buy and subsidise to the tune of £££££’s ever year. Carwyn Jones couldn’t care less about the Welsh steel workers, he’s rubbing his hands at the thought of yet another closure he can blame on the Tories.
Correct! Unfortunately, the people in Wales will still elect Carwyn to serve another term.
It’s not the people of Wales that will put Caravan in charge, it’s the Labour party. Time to stop wasting votes on Plaid, who will form a coalition with them, Tories who have no possibility of winning enough seats to make a difference, Liberal Democrats who are finished for the time being.
Change will only come with UKIP, and before all the party hacks put their four pennyworth in myu comment is not aimed at them but the people who are undecided!
The biggest waste of votes is that of UKIP, the English Nationalists, whose main priority was to get a vote on the EU which is coming in June ..
The EU referendum has the potential to weaken even further the lost support once enjoyed by The Welsh Nationalists, particularly if people follow the exit campaign, perhaps that is one of the best reason to vote for exit.
Leanne Woods, The Welsh Nationalist leader has declared, yesterday, that Welsh Independence is a dead duck, that is the one block in the wall which defined her party from all other mainstream left of centre political parties and groups, leaving nothing to support by voting Welsh Nationalist. A truely wasted vote. and has removed the one policy aim of the Welsh Nationalist a policy once proudly promoted by honest and truthful members and supporters of the party.
Labours achievement – In a nutshell, outlined by Jeff Cuthbert is remarkable, and a proud record of years of Labours stewardship of our Welsh Government, a list of achievements to tick off the `todo` list.
Much left to do, work on which will be recommenced after the May Assembly Elections. I too know the Labour Candidate in the Assembly Elections next month, a young, energetic, carismatic, (young) but experience Councillor, Husband and father, who is never afraid to think out of the box on matters which he feels require further consideration and narrative. Always keen to support and promote public engagement, always eager to work with the communities and groups he serves, and always without political favour. A true public representative, who, if elected and I am sure he will be, will serve all the communities of the borough and people of all political views. and, the one Candidate with the proven record of doing so. As will Jeff if he is elected to the Crime and Police Commissioner job in May.
Labour’s remarkable record. I did not know you took up stand-up comedy. Let us see:
– Allowing Lansbury park to become the poorest area in the UK
– Schools in Wales behind schools in all other UK countries, and way below average for developed countries.
– Under-achievement by people
– More poverty than in England
– A worse NHS than in England
– Fewer businesses than in England
– A survey where SMEs state they have no confidence in the WAG
– No support for Welsh industry
– Lower life expectancy, higher child mortality, more obesity, more children struggling at school, lower literacy rates, and more crime than in England.
All of this happened under 13 years of Labour rule.
good points and still going down hill with the LDP and school tax
As a Welsh Nationalist I am surprised you, or your public representatives, fail to make the same points as Mr O
Me too, Plaid just blame others. Basically their platform is the same as Labour but with hatred for the English thrown in for good measure. If they wanted genuine independence for Wales, outside of the antidemocratic EU, I would have some respect for their views. Instead they want Wales to be controlled by unelected people in EU Commission. I used to vote for them, used to vote for Labour too, but have now had enough.
The Assembly is a side show, the important vote is on 23rd June.
Richard, keep up, LOL. Leanne announced,but only yesterday, they have `ditched` thier plans for Independence for Wales. Perhaps you are right and since the days of Saunders Lewis`s and others visions for Wales all current Welsh Nationalists have deliberatly contributed to the destruction of that vision.
Add to that list a deficit of £14bn, Wales is the poor relation of the U.K, and they want devolution – income tax raised in Wales wouldn’t even pay the ever increasing disability benefit bill.
I thought your take on Government intervention was to be avoided, if that is the case how can you possibly suggest your list is a series of `Government failures?.why on earth, if you do, would you want to live in such a Country you suggest we Welsh Citizens live in?
Government intervention should take place if it benefits society. If there is a riot going on I expect government intervention in the form of police to stop it. If industry is receiving a raw deal I expect government intervention to help out something so important. Industry is different to a flower shop business, or an IT business. Without steel there would be no ship building if WWIII broke out – steel is a needed industry.
Labour just lets everyone down apart from foreigners who it gives lots of cash to and allows into the country.
So, where does your. ( becoming inconsistant) view on Government intervention rate in respect to the points you raised in respect as whatyou see as Welsh Govenrment Failures?, I have tried, and failed, to correspond your non-intervention policy against each point you make, and
I have drawn the view that in order for the points you make to be altered, improved, changed or otherwise `dealt` with, you are suggesting in your previous comment that there should have been Welsh Government intervention?otherwise how is it a failure of Welsh Govenrment?.
What should the Welsh Government, including the past Lib Dem/ Labour , Welsh Nationalist/ Labour coalition governments, so, thats, The Nationalists, The Lib Dems or indeed Labour, have done by way of intevention.
S
Ah, our AM, from one easy job as an AM to another as PCC. Not a bad life, is it?
The gravy train rolls on …… there once was a time when the Labour Party knew what the people want and need now they are so far out of touch when the gravy train rolls in they jump on ….
Much the same as `enobled`, Nationalists, and I understand there maybe such a seat on that particular gravy train soon to be taken by a shortly to be `former` Assembly Member.
Yes, the Welsh Nats love to have English titles, Barons Dafydd Elis Thomas and Wigley spring to mind. Maybe there is another soon to be enobled AM from Plaid waiting for his honour – you could be right.
You are getting as stupid as the labourite …
Watch this space for future news on a Nationalist members enoblement.
Stupid comments from the resident labourite again …
Well!! Lisa, let`s hope you are right and we`ve managed to prevent A Welsh Nationalist from being `enobled`, That would be a job well done.
Only if the people of Gwent Elect him, it appears to me he takes nothing for granted.
If the job of Police and Crime Commissioner is done properly it is a very high profile, high pressure job. There is no AM I know that is up to the task.
Thank the Lord it`s his last ..
And the last we can hear form Mr Whittle of course who will no longer be able to publicly pontificate as an Assemby Member after the elections in May.