VOTE COMMUNIST ON MAY 3

Wednesday 02. May 2012

The Welsh Communist Party is fielding eight candidates in this Thursday's Welsh local elections in: Cardiff (Adamsdown, Grangetown, Pentwyn, and Splott); Merthyr Tydfil (Town, Vaynor and Bedlinog) and Torfaen (Blaenavon). This is your opportunity to vote for a real alternative. Printed below is an abridged report, carried in the Western Mail, on the Party's manifesto launch.

The Welsh Communists are about more than litter, dog mess and pot holes, its candidates declared when they launched their local election manifesto, in Cardiff, with a central message that public investment is needed instead of cuts.

General secretary of the Communist Party of Britain Robert Griffiths, who is also the Welsh Communist candidate for Splott, said the party’s candidates would be prepared to stand up and represent residents on the big issues.

Mr Griffiths said: “We are going through the biggest cuts in public services for 60 years, the biggest drop in living standards for 60 years, and yet Labour’s top election pledges are we oppose litter, dog mess and pot holes. Tory pledges are the same.

“We oppose dog mess, litter and pots holes – I can’t imagine there is any candidate standing who is in favour of them – but there’s nothing about public spending cuts, a huge need for affordable housing, nothing about Cardiff’s unemployment rate. “

Grangetown candidate Rick Newnham said the Welsh Communists want to see more democracy at street and community level in Cardiff, and the party believe Cardiff Council should campaign for a Welsh parliament with “full economic and fund-raising powers”.

The party also outlined 10 specific policies for Wales:

- More public sector housing at affordable rents.
- A compulsory take-over of empty office accommodation
- An integrated public transport system linking buses, rail and Cardiff airport.
- Oppose polluting incinerators – use safer, cleaner technology and increase recycling
- A council-led drive for jobs and facilities for disabled workers
- More funding for domestic violence refuges
- Higher council tax rates for top-band properties
- No more outsourcing or privatisation of council services
- Careful use of council reserves to protect jobs and services
- A tight cap on councillors’ allowances and expenses.

Read the Welsh Communist Party’s full election manifesto http://yourcardiff.walesonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Welsh_manifesto_2012_Local_low_res.pdf