The 2017 General Election takes place on Thursday, June 8 and Caerphilly Observer has asked each of the candidates in the county borough to submit 100 words. Here we profile the Caerphilly constituency.
The Caerphilly constituency covers the St James, St Martin’s, Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen, Morgan Jones, Penyrheol, Llanbradach, Aber Valley, Ystrad Mynach, Nelson, Hengoed, St Cattwg, Gilfach and Bargoed wards to the south and west of the county borough.
The seat has been held by Labour since equal parliamentary democracy was created in 1918, when the Representation of the People Act allowed women equal votes.
It has been held by Wayne David since 2001 and in 2015 Labour won 44.3% of the vote, with UKIP coming second with 19.3%, followed by the Conservatives. From an electorate of 63,603, 40,368 votes were cast, a 63.47% turnout.
There are six candidates standing in Caerphilly:
JANE PRATT, CONSERVATIVE: Jane stood as the Assembly Candidate in Caerphilly last year. She is standing for MP as she wants to see Caerphilly benefitting from a strong Conservative Government in Westminster that will drive further investment bringing skilled jobs, better infrastructure and wealth creation.
She wants to see more local apprenticeships and affordable housing to keep our young people in the locality to see the region prosper.
The removal of the Severn Bridge tolls will drive economic growth and Jane as Caerphilly’s MP working with Theresa May as our Prime Minister will ensure future economic stability for the region.
LINDSAY WHITTLE, PLAID CYMRU: I’m a well-known community campaigner in Caerffili.
Many of you are aware of my efforts to protect our green fields and improve facilities at Ystrad Mynach hospital. I fully accept the Brexit vote, although I voted remain. Now the decision is made, I want to look forward and ensure Wales gets best deal and EU money is replaced by Westminster.
I’m an experienced voice from the Valleys. Lend me your vote on June 8 and look forward to a future that our young people can be proud of.
I will fight for Caerffili, fight for Wales and put Wales first.
ANDREW CREAK, GREEN PARTY: I am a young LGBTIQA+ person from Caerphilly. I joined the Green Party in the run-up to the 2015 general election and started being active a few weeks later.
I worked hard on the Welsh Green Pride campaign to end the discriminatory blood ban stopping men who have sex with men from donating blood. And last year worked hard with the Gwern Y Domen Conservation Group to stop the council from building on greenfield sites.
I am standing for everyone who lives in Caerphilly, no matter your gender, sexuality, race, or religion. I am standing up for the common good.
KAY DAVID, LIBERAL DEMOCRATS: I live in Nelson and have worked as a teacher in Pengam for many years.
I believe that the Liberal Democrats can break the strangle-hold which Labour has in the area, and can provide a strong voice for a fair Brexit in Parliament.
Our NHS in Wales needs a strong leadership and the extra penny on income tax we propose will give Wales an extra £300 million for the NHS.
We are also committed to improving education, which has gone downhill in the last decade. The pupil premium will certainly improve the situation.
I urge people to vote for a fair and open society with the Liberal Democrats.
WAYNE DAVID, LABOUR: I have been the MP for Caerphilly since 2001. Since I was first elected, I have helped thousands of people through my advice surgeries and my local office.
I need your support to continue this work.
I have also campaigned to preserve our countryside. This is more important than ever before and if re-elected, I will do my utmost to ensure that new houses are built on brownfield sites and not on our beautiful countryside.
In this election I am standing as a local Welsh Labour candidate.
Welsh Labour is the Party of devolution and I am proud to stand-up for the community of which I am part.
LIZ WILKS, UKIP: I was born in Monmouthshire and have spent most of my working life helping others in all three sectors of employment: public, private and voluntary.
I joined UKIP because it is not a party of elitists who have no idea how the other half live, but rather a party of people who have experienced the ups and downs of life and want to make our country work for everyone.
It is a party who will put their constituents first, a party who cares about our country, the only party truly committed to leaving the EU, which Caerphilly overwhelmingly voted for. Please vote for me.
Vote UKIP on June 8.
To see the candidates standing for Islwyn, click here.
A correction here – Caerphilly Observer reports that in the 2015 election Plaid Cymru came third, behind UKIP. This is not so, the Conservative candidate, Leo Docherty, came third. He polled 6,683 votes which beats Plaid’s 5,895 comfortably, making them (Plaid) fourth in the pecking order.
I would of voted for Mr Gould had he run and I’m sorry he isn’t. But I’m voting blue this time because we’ve got to get out of the eussr no matter what.
I can’t argue with that, getting out of the EU is number one on my list.
Would be nice to see the Conservatives actually making an effort to try and gain votes – or does Jane Pratt simply sit back with her feet up knowing very well that as long as the sun rises in the morning Wayne David will be voted in, again, and again, and again.
I think they are reigned to it, they are probably not spemding anything on camaigning here either. At least the Caerphilly Observer has changed their report to show the Tories coming third, last time, after Labour and UKIP.
I will be voting Liz Wilkes, UKIP, as she is the only candidate that is solidly behind the people’s decision to leave the corrupt EU. This includes their old fashioned customs union called ‘the Single Market.’
I chuckled to hear of Labour’s Emily Thornbury stating that we cannot trade food with Australia “because it will go off.” Which indicates ill educated comments are not solely the province of Diane Abbott on New Labour’s front bench. Harold Wilson and all the old, well educated former Labour politicians must be spinning in their graves.
Nonsense! Emily Thornberry is highly edjamacated. That’s why she looks down on those that should know better and avert their eyes when she comes astriding along.
She also likes to pour scorn on anyone she debates which really grinds my gears.
She (Thornbury) does have a particularly massive ego, even for a politician. I, slightly, can tolerate her more than the pompous Abbott though.
When asked a question Abbott sighs in a bored fashion and always begins with “Well..” before firmly putting both feet in her mouth with whatever nonsense comes into her mind at that point.
Her manner, is ecruciatingly embarrassing to watch. For those who have not seen Andrew Neil or Nick Ferrari demolishing this great big, overpaid, pudding have a treat in store. Have a look online.
Old Diane Abacus? Yes I’ve seen most of the material on her.
After all, Mao did more good than harm by leading his people from feudalism which cancels out the death of 80 million people or 8 million over 10 years or £30 a year or something.
She puts on that half closed eyes, condescending tone approach to cover for the fact that the hamster on a wheel that is her brain, has a broken leg.
This is not what I want for Home Secretary, an antiestablishment, Marxist with a head full of soft toys.
Proven hypocrite with all the patriotism of Lord Haw Haw.
“Diane Abacus” brilliant! I shall, henceforth, always think of her as a simple frame, decorated with a few beads that requires an outside human intelligence to provide any useful work!
I do admit to a soft spot for old Jeremy Corbin, I don’t agree with a lot of things he says but I do have due regard for his consistent view of the world. I also like the fact that he has, over many years, consistently been anti EU. A socialist could not ever be infavour of the EU, that goes without saying anything further. Where he has lost credibility is his recent softening of his public image to placate the parliamentary Labour party.
The people of Caerffili have a choice next Thursday. They can vote for those who like the EU, want to stay in the EU, want to carry on paying money to the EU, want to be run from Strasbourg and Brussels or someone who does not. There is only one candidate for me to vote for, the one who wants none of the preceding, Liz Wilkes.
If you are thinking of voting Liz Wilks I suggest you check out Chubby Charlie’s Aberdare fb page