Communists launch May 3 manifesto

Welsh Communists contesting eight seats in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenafon launched their 24-page manifesto yesterday under the banner Real Power for the People and Communities of Wales.

Communist Party general secretary Robert Griffiths joined other party officials and candidates at a media conference in Cardiff, answering questions and interviews in English and Welsh.

The main focus was local elections due on May 3 which the party will contesting on a platform of total opposition to cuts in public services and jobs.

Mr Griffiths said: “The Tory-Lib Dem regime at Westminster and its New Labour predecessors have pledged £1,400 billion to bail out the banks and financial markets.

“Yet they claim we cannot afford £213bn for vital public services and benefits over the next four years.”

Mr Griffiths, who is standing in his local community of Splott, Cardiff, claimed that Wales will be hit disproportionately hard by the cuts, which he estimated would amount to at least £16 bn.

He poured scorn on the “Tweedledee, Tweedledum” election campaigns of Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories in the capital city.

“They have no policies for public services, jobs, housing or public transport — but are unanimous in their opposition to litter and dog droppings,” he said.

Catrin Ashton, who is standing in her home village of Bedlinog, Merthyr Tydfil, highlighted the plight of beleaguered Remploy workers “devastated by the penny-pinching closure of Remploy factories in Merthyr and across south Wales.”

Candidate David Brown raised the issue of the problems face by valley communities such as Blaenafon.