Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Journal Column – 9th March

Carmarthenshire has once again led the way in Welsh politics.  We will rightly be known as the county which delivered the National Assembly in 1997, and just fourteen years later we delivered the highest turnout of voters, coupled with the third highest percentage of those in favour, which resulted in Wales having her own Parliament in all but name.  This Parliament is supported by an overwhelming majority of the people of Wales.  But in stark contrast 1997, Wales is united on this issue.  The very existence of the Welsh Assembly will never be debated again.

The focus has now turned to the first Welsh General Election of the new National Assembly which takes place in May.  Plaid has succeeded in bringing the attention of the Westminster parties on Wales and on the issues which specifically relate to Wales – whether it’s the electrification of the Great Western Railway, a national referendum or the fact that as a nation we are underfunded by the UK Treasury, the Labour, Tory and Lib Dem parties have come to agree with what Plaid has said for a number of years.

The challenge for Plaid moving forward – in the face of Labour well and truly parking their tanks on our lawn – is to demonstrate to the people of Wales that whilst we have achieved significant successes in Government, our vision does not stop with simply managing Wales – we want to transform Wales.

Over the next few weeks we will present our manifesto to the nation; a statement of aspirations and commitments for Wales for the new political era.

Labour has shown no vision for Wales and just like last year’s Westminster election is relying on an ‘anti-conservative’ vote to help them win in May. Plaid will never take the people of Wales for granted in the same way.

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