Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
TeaHere’s an old phrase in SSouth Wales: “A one-legged donkey can run Labor And people around here will still vote for it”.
But on a rainy morning in the former mining town of Caerphilly, it’s clear that adage is no longer true.
Two days before an important by-election, there is no doubt that Sir keir starmer Desire Fight to retain this constituencywhich is considered one Labor Citadel since 1918.
Current surveys show that the ruling party is headed for a complete defeat, with a two-horse race emerging between Nigel Farageis right wing Improvement party and Welsh nationalists, plaid cymru,
This could cause First Minister Alunred Morgan to lose her effective majority. Parliament – Who Labor has persisted for more than 25 years – And serious questions have arisen about the Prime Minister’s future, especially as polls suggest his party could finish third in next year’s Welsh elections.
“People are fed up with the way the country is going,” Jeffrey Lettbridge said. Independent“I’m old enough now to have been through this situation again and again for many years. Labor and the Conservatives have always been in the lead on everything.
“Times have changed and they have not been able to adjust to it. They have done nothing for the country. Our condition is very bad.”
When the Labor candidate knocked on my door, my son closed the door in his face
For the 71-year-old local citizen, his main concerns include immigration and the state of the NHS. From the perspective of many of his generation, the Welsh Government has failed to reduce waiting lists and improve social care, and his plans to improve the lives of local people have failed to succeed.
“I’m going to vote Nigel Farage Because I think there’s actually some honesty in that. “It may sound like I’m patronizing when I say this, but I think people have become more educated in terms of politics, and I think people are beginning to realize that they can be easily led,” he said.
He is not alone in sharing these views. A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, has decided to vote Improvement After discovering that he had an incurable lung disease. A lifelong Labor supporter, she had spent two years on the NHS waiting list and felt let down by the services that should have protected her.
Figures released in July revealed that the NHS treatment waiting list has now risen to 796,000 – the equivalent of almost one in four Welsh people.
“I found one 18-year-old and two 35-year-olds, they’re all voting for reform,” he said. “Put it this way, I don’t know anyone who is voting Labor. I’ve been a staunch Labor Party member all my life and they’ve lied, lied and lied. It’s not right. When the Labor candidate knocked on my door, my son slammed it in his face.”
The presence of reform is being felt keenly throughout the city. Many of the houses leading off its shopping street, Cardiff Road, have been decorated with light blue placards, with the pub The Piccadilly also decorating itself with posters of its candidate, Lloyd Powell.
As Mr Powell is seen walking down the street with a box of campaign leaflets, a passerby waves and shouts: “Dude, I’m voting for you!”
Enthusiasm is high at the brightly colored Reform constituency office. Many people of all ages entered to chat with team members, who were handed leaflets that read, “Stop Labor and.” plaid cymru’s mass immigration agenda”.
This also includes finishing ParliamentThe Nation of Sanctuary policy is a Welsh Government initiative to help refugees and asylum seekers find employment and integrate themselves into society. Despite making immigration an integral part of his campaign, the 2021 census revealed that only 2.9 per cent of people in Caerphilly were born outside the UK.
For many people walking around the city on Tuesday morning, immigration is not that high on their priority list. Many noted high occupational rates destroying local companies, long ambulance waiting times, lack of investment in infrastructure and roads, as well as poor support for mental health services.
While many are hopeful that Reform UK can bring about change, others are undecided. David Thomas said, “People are completely fed up; a change is coming.” “It’s been too long, too much has gone wrong, the management of Caerphilly by the council has been very poor. The money has not been used well.”
The 71-year-old has always been a vocal critic of the council’s financial decisions, and had previously voted tactically in an attempt to oust Labor from power. Despite this, he said: “I’m not sure about the reform. I can’t balance it.”
“They are outspoken and very good in their rhetoric, but whether this will prove to be true, I doubt.”
One thing is for sure, Labour’s First Minister, Alunred Morgan, may no longer regard the Caerphilly constituency as a safe seat, with recent polling predicting that her party will win only 12 per cent of the vote.
Meanwhile, Reform UK is expected to get a 42 per cent stake and plaid Cymru a 38 per cent stake. This could drastically change the political landscape of Wales as voters go to the polls in Senedd elections next May.
The Welsh Nationalist Party is now hoping they can appeal to young and progressive voters, as well as those who are disenchanted with Labor and unsure whom to support.
For Lindsay Whittle, representing the people of Caerphilly has been her life’s work since she first stood as a councilor for Penrhall ward in 1976. The campaign is also personal for him, as he knew and worked with the Labor politician Hefin David, whose sudden death led to this by-election.
“The first people who voted for me have passed away, their children and grandchildren now vote for me. I don’t take anything for granted and I would say vote for the person you know you can trust.
“I’m a grassroots guy, vote for something you can trust. Vote for someone who doesn’t offer the politics of fear and hope, vote for someone who offers hope and love.”