South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle’s blog: May 6, 2015

In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.

Senedd
During First Minister questions, I stressed the importance of ensuring that all the money spent on public and personal health promotion was cost effective during a discussion on the NHS.

I also brought up in the Senedd the issue of the blue badge system, so vital for thousands of disabled people across Wales.

I’m concerned about the consistency across Wales, about both the overall provision of spaces and the charging for those places. But also more importantly, the eligibility criteria. We have to ensure, when enforcing the rules that we don’t end up with eligibility criteria that ensure that some people are inadvertently denied a blue badge.

And I pressed the case for the appointment of a Disability Commissioner in Wales to be a powerful voice for disabled people. Disabled people deserve the same rights treatment as older people and children. I said that the Welsh Government’s decision to dismiss the rights of disabled people to receive equality is morally unacceptable.

Miners
I was proud to take a large print of three Abertridwr miners – Jack Roberts, Leo Price and Wyndham Watkins –to an event at Cathays Park in Cardiff.

It was organised by Plaid Youth to celebrate the anniversary of all brave men who went to Spain to fight the fascist General Franco.

Apart from people from Wales also present were young people from Spain, the Basque country and Catalonia.

Trecenydd
I wanted to highlight the work of the Trecenydd Residents Group which held a funday at the weekend on the local playing field.

They are working really hard to raise £900 to buy goal posts. The council wants to take them away this week, which is ridiculous. There is lots of controversy locally but no one should doubt the great work done by the group.

And finally…
People in Caerphilly constituency will go to the polls tomorrow to choose their next MP.

Some of the candidates standing live in England and can have no real affinity with our area.

I would ask voters to remember those parties, like Plaid Cymru, that work in the area throughout the year, rather than turn up a few weeks before an election and put a few leaflets out.

Whatever the result on Thursday, Plaid Cymru borough and community councillors will be in their communities working away and doing their best. It’s all about commitment to the people we represented.

I’ve had the privilege to have been an elected politician for almost 40 years and I’ve always tried to do my best for the area that I represent.

Times are very interesting and it will be fascinating to see what develops if – as expected – there is a hung parliament with no overall majority. Plaid Cymru will set out to get the best deal for Wales, if that happens.