Abigail Mainon is Deputy Chairman Membership of the Welsh Conservative Party and is standing as the Conservative Candidate for the seat of Aberafan Maesteg.
Another week in Wales, and the battle goes on to retain our held parliamentary seats.
This week the record of the Welsh Labour Government has again been under the spotlight, with Nigel Farage looking to poach not only Welsh Conservative votes but also some of Labour’s.
His choosing the South Wales town of Merthyr Tydfil to launch the Reform UK manifesto (or ‘Contract’, as they are calling it) was a statement of intent. It seems Reform are looking to capitalise on this present mistrust of the Welsh Labour Government by seeking the support of voters in some of their Welsh stronghold seats.
With 52.5 per cent of Wales voting to leave the EU, immigration being a voter key issue, the Labour-run NHS having the waiting times in the UK, higher taxes (particularly during the cost-of-living crisis) and Farage’s apparent traction with younger voters on social media, this jump for socialist voters may not be so far-fetched.
The national Labour message of ‘change’ dampened by 25 years of devolution under Welsh Labour rule; Reform may cater to that need for some of their disgruntled voters. At the launch, Farage said:
“We’ve chosen to launch our contract in Wales, which seems highly, highly appropriate. After all, Labour have been in power here since 1997.
“So, perhaps there are some lessons that we can learn from 25 years of Labour Government in Wales – at perhaps what we may have to look forward to in just a few weeks’ time when Sir Keir Starmer becomes our prime minister.”
He added:
“In Wales, taxes are higher, yes they are. Council Tax is higher, on average about £500 per medium property than it is in England.”
“So the people in Wales pay more taxes, and spending per capita is higher in Wales than it is in England. There’s more money being spent on you on public services than there is on the other side of the bridge. “Perhaps that wouldn’t matter if it led to better delivery”.
In a statement ahead of the launch, Farage said that Reform UK chose Merthyr Tydfil as the launch location as it “shows everyone exactly what happens to a country when Labour is in charge”.
The Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, as the largest opposition party in Wales, and along with the wider Conservative Party, have been working hard to hold Welsh Labour Government to account.
Our national manifesto mentions Wales 38 times, compared to Labour’s 20 times, and includes pledges to reverse the controversial 20mph speed limit and to improve connectivity across Wales after the Welsh Labour Government scrapped all new road projects.
In this week’s FMQs Tom Giffard MS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for South Wales West called out the Welsh First Minister for ignoring the Senedd’s vote of no confidence and continuing in post, saying:
“There’s a General Election on the horizon and you know as well as I do that too many people in Wales don’t cast a ballot because they feel their vote doesn’t make a difference.
“What message do you think you’ve sent to the public when you say a democratic vote by the people that they elect doesn’t matter?”
The First Minister responded saying that he recognised the “circumstances” around the vote and that he “acted in accordance with the rules of this institution”, and maintains his controversial campaign donation was “within the rules”, but has appointed Carwyn Jones, the former first minister, to lead an interval review of Welsh Labour processes.
On the doorsteps, Vaughan’s record and 20 mph is still a hot topic – and the fear of a Labour Government in Westminster is setting in.
Whilst out campaigning in the Vale of Glamorgan earlier in the week one resident told me “Labour in charge any further is a scary thought, those lot are useless. Imagine that Angela Rayner showing up somewhere like Germany to represent the UK”, and shuddered.
Locally, our incumbent representatives seem to have maintained their popularity; whilst out canvassing in Rhyl with Darren Millar MS over the weekend the Conservative vote was holding strong, despite the polls. This is a similar story across our Welsh seats.
The problem we have is enthusing those we don’t manage to speak to face to face to turn out on the day.
The post Abigail Mainon: In Wales, devolved government is undermining Starmer’s ‘change’ message – but will Farage benefit? appeared first on Conservative Home.
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Author: Abigail Mainon
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