Sunday 4 April 2010

Dafydd Wigley: Myfanwy can win back Llanelli’s missing millions

Plaid Honorary President Dafydd Wigley was in Llanelli yesterday to set out how electing Dr. Myfanwy Davies as the town’s MP, Llanelli’s communities would have the best chance of gaining the millions owed to them by the London Government.
For many years Plaid has been campaigning for Wales to receive its fair share of support from Westminster. During the past year two independent Inquiries have found that Wales is severly underfunded. Over 10 years, Llanelli’s communities should be £240 million richer.

With most polls now predicting a hung Parliament, and Plaid and the SNP expected to gain their largest ever number of seats, the group would be in a key position to negotiate on a fair deal for Llanelli.

Mr Wigley met local councillors and community leaders at La Caprice café bar and spoke to traders in Llanelli market about steps to draw people into the town centre.
Mr Wigley said:

"With all the polls pointing to a hung parliament, this election brings back memories for me. I was much younger and less hard-headed than Myfanwy, when we last had a hung parliament and I was part of Plaid’s negotiating team”.
“Back then, we won compensation from the Government for miners who had become disabled because of dust in their lungs”.

“This time, with a much larger group and with tough, experienced negotiators like Myfanwy, we will be asking for fair funding for Wales at the price of our support to the next Government on issues like the budget.”

“It is high time Llanelli got a fair deal from London and high time to send an MP to London who will put Llanelli’s needs first.”

Myfanwy added:

“On the same day that the Labour party brought back Tony Blair, that most discredited of British politicians to boost their flagging fortunes, I’ve been very pleased to welcome Dafydd Wigley to Llanelli”.
“If there is anyone who can show how Welsh communities can benefit from a Plaid MP, it is Dafydd”.

“Now we are looking forward to a hung parliament, I want to be able to fight for the support Llanelli needs and that has been denied us for so many years”.
“Whatever they may say this close to an election, both major parties plan cuts. Just by getting fair funding, we could protect our schools, hospitals and care homes and help our local economy grow”.