Milford Mercury | Local News, Sport & Entertainment

Election race reaches the midway point

From the Milford Mercury, first published Thursday 21st Apr 2005.

THE ELECTION campaign has reached its midway point and it has been a busy week of campaigning in Pembrokeshire.

Plaid Cymru received some big name support when Elfyn Llwyd, Westminster Plaid leader, joined up with local candidate Matt Mathias on the campaign trail.

Plaid also launched a detailed policy "to tackle the problems facing Pembrokeshire and other parts of west Wales."

The policies include creating a directly elected West Coast Development Authority (WCDA).

Mr Mathias said: "Plaid Cymru is the only party that is thinking of ways to directly tackle the economic problems of Pembrokeshire and west Wales.

The establishment of a WCDA, with specific duties to solve the problems of peripheral areas in Pembrokeshire and the west is a radical proposal, but a directly elected body with real teeth to deal with the problems of rural Wales is needed because New Labour and the Tories have totally ignored the problems of areas outside Cardiff."

Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have launched a website so voters can ask questions of Preseli candidate Dewi Smith.

Mr Smith said: "I am very happy to be able to answer as many questions as possible, as it is my belief that what people want is an MP who they can believe, even if they don't always agree with what I have to say."

The website address is www.pembslibdems.co.uk and also features details of key Liberal Democrat policies.

The Labour campaign received a boost from both Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

Preseli Labour candidate Sue Hayman also visited a Jobsfair in Milford Haven. She said: "When I launched my campaign I pledged to fight for more good jobs for Pembrokeshire people, and if elected I'll be talking to employers about how we can work together to bring even more prosperity to the county."

The Conservative push to ensure the A40 becomes dual carriageway has been backed by two former Secretaries of State for Wales.

Lord Crickhowell, who was the Conservative MP for Pembroke from 1970 to 1987 and William Hague both supported candidate Stephen Crabb's call for dualling.

Lord Crickhowell said: "Driving to the county on Friday it was depressing to find that so little has been done since then to improve the A40 and complete the work that I initiated as Secretary of State."

Mr Hague added: "There is a very strong business case for dualling the A40 into Pembrokeshire. Upgrading the road will make this part of Wales more attractive for inward investment and provide a boost to those local firms competing with companies all over the UK."

Parties agree to Milford debate

ALL four main party candidates for Preseli Pembrokeshire have now agreed to take part in a Question Time session in Milford Haven next week.

Organised by Cytun, Churches Together in Milford Haven, the session will take place at North Road Baptist Church, North Road, Milford Haven at 7.30 pm on Friday April 29.

Anybody who would like to submit a question to the panel is asked to send it in to Rev Alan Chadwick at Hubberston Rectory. Rev chadwick can also be contacted at alanandmarychadwick@hubberston.freeserve.co.uk.

Alternatively, you can send questions to the Mercury and we will pass them on to the organisers. Questions can be dropped in or posted to our office at 92, Charles Street, Milford Haven, faxed to us on 01646 693941, or e-mailed to richard.harris@gwent-wales.co.uk

Please indicate if you intend to be at the hustings as priority will be given to those who will be there.

Candidates confirmed THE official nominations have been received and the candidates in the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency are confirmed as:

Patricia Bowen (Socialist Labour Party); Jim Carver (UK Independence Party); Stephen Crabb (Conservative); Sue Hayman (Labour); Matthew Mathias (Plaid Cymru); Molly Scott Cato (Wales Green Party); Dewi Smith (Liberal Democrat).

In the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency the candidates are: Nick Ainger (Labour); John Allen (Liberal Democrat); Alexander Daszak (Legalise Cannabis Alliance); John Dixon (Plaid Cymru); Josie MacDonald (UK Independence Party); David Morris (Conservative); Nick Turner (no description).

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