Campaigning Issues
As well as our national campaigns, as an Assembly Member for North Wales I am frequently asked to become involved in important local issues across the region. In addition, in my current role as Shadow Minister for Education, I am heavily involved in campaigns on many different education issues.
You can read more on these topics below.
National Campaigns
In 2005 we secured some great successes in scrapping top-up tuition fees in Wales and including more money in the Assembly’s budget for small schools, rail services and easing the burden of council tax on the elderly and we will continue to work with other parties where possible and where that would bring real benefits to the people of Wales.
And we will continue to campaign for:
A Proper Parliament for Wales
The Right to an Affordable Home
Fair Funding for Wales
Plaid intends to play a leading role in shaping Wales’ future in 2006.
Wales needs a new Government to make lasting improvements, but we intend to use our position as the main opposition party in the last full year before the next Assembly election to secure key changes on health, education and Objective 1. We will also seek changes to the new Government of Wales Bill to make sure the Assembly gets the law making powers it needs to do the job properly in the future.
We will demand substantial changes to the Objective 1 programme this time round, so that we see greater emphasis on creating well-paid and sustainable jobs in West Wales and the Valleys. Labour squandered much of the first round, and left us so poor that we qualified the second time around. We cannot allow the same thing to happen next time.
Labour cannot force through its programme in the Assembly any more without our co-operation. We intend to use our influence to secure real improvements in the health service, and build on the successes we achieved in education in 2005. The Welsh health service, despite recent cash injections still lags behind England and Scotland and we must close the gap much more quickly. There are some things we can do now, although it will require a change in Government to get things really moving.
Important Local Issues in North Wales
Some of my most satisfying work is just helping individuals with their problems, which can be literally anything from battling vandalism and anti-social behaviour, repairing paving slabs, getting help for blocked drains or even just giving advice on where to seek an answer.
My work as an Assembly Member for North Wales ensures that I am asked to become involved in many different issues across the whole region - to illustrate the variety of topics, some local examples over recent months include:
Wrexham and Flintshire
Safeguarding the future of Wrexham FC, battling against badly-sited mobile phone masts and landfill sites in Wrexham, improving drug rehabilitation services, attracting more specialist nurses and doctors in Flintshire, improved funding for Flintshire schools.
Denbighshire
Preventing the unnecessary closure of small schools in Denbighshire, opposing hospital car parking charges at Glan Clwyd and the closure of Llangollen Youth Hostel, more affordable housing, better support for charitable organisations in Rhyl and supporting farmers in the Vale of Clwyd.
Conwy
Fair funding for the North Wales Race Equality Network based in Penmaenmawr, capital investment in osteoporosis services in Llandudno Hospital, better parking for Colwyn Bay residents, retaining vital appliances at Llandudno Fire Station, better use of neuro-rehabilitation services in Colwyn Bay, medical treatment for ex-service personnel in Llandudno and GP services in Cerrigydrudion.
Gwynedd and Anglesey
Supporting Welsh speakers in Gwynedd Hospital, more investment in the Conwy valley commercial and passenger railway services, the need for a third lane on the Britania bridge, and support for a new Porthmadog by-pass.
Education Issues
As Shadow Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning since 2003 I am very proud of our achievements in scrapping top-up tuition fees for students in Wales and seeking fairer and more transparent funding for our schools and colleges. I will continue to lead Plaid's campaign to oppose the unnecessary closure of small schools, especially those in our rural communities.
To ensure better education, we demand adequate funding for education in Wales, based on the scrapping of the Barnett Formula and full legislative power for the Assembly in the field of education.
I will continue to campaign for greater investment in early years education and in smaller, especially rural schools, for more opportunities for the school leaver and for world-class Welsh colleges and universities.
Our teachers and lecturers are among the most dedicated professionals you will ever find and I see it as a duty to battle the Labour Government for better pay and conditions for them.
We would oppose any imposition of a new retirement age for teachers without negotiation and agreement. We value the whole team in our schools, including support staff.
Of course, Plaid always has and probably always will be in the forefront of the campaign for more investment in Welsh-medium education at every level, from nursery schools to a fully-fledged Welsh-medium federal college in the University of Wales.