Why Welsh Labour need to win — Mike Hedges AM
This is a response to Hollie Wickens article “Do Welsh Labour need to lose?”
I could be considered to have a vested interest because if either the Conservatives or Plaid Cymru were to have a majority, my seat in Swansea East would be in danger of being one of those lost. The more likely way of Labour losing control of the National assembly is creating an anti-Labour coalition between the Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and any surviving Liberal democrats or UKIP members. Remember there has never been a majority Labour Government at the National Assembly only Labour led coalitions and budget deals.
What would be at risk if Labour lost to a Conservative led or supported government
Flying start- a pre-school programme provided to children in our poorest communities
The school building programme- Building new schools across Wales to replace old and out dated buildings
The creation of academies — the mass privatisation of state education as has happened in England
Privatisation in the health service- the privatisation of health in England being copied in Wales
The ending of free prescriptions- making medicines unaffordable for some people. I am still haunted, from the days before free prescriptions, by a woman with two prescriptions asking the chemist which was the more important because she could only afford one
Further cuts to Council pending- with the inability of hospitals to send people home because the required community care was not available
These are just some of the areas of Welsh public services at risk from Labour losing.
There are no shortage of ideas thanks to Mathew Hexter hosting this Welsh Fabian site we have had articles from Dawn Bowden, Jeremy Miles and myself, plus other party members , with I hope many more from Assembly members and party members contributing. There have also been articles written by Labour assembly members for the IWA click on wales site and the Bevan Foundation. There have been a number of pamphlets written by individual Labour Members. There are a lot of radical ideas out there and we need to harness this energy to take Labour forward.
There are a number of challenges facing the next Labour Leader including winning the next Assembly election and having a majority for the first time since devolution.
Key issues that need resolving although I am not listing them in any particular order and the list is not exhaustive are
Increasing affordable housing- too many people have difficulty accessing quality affordable housing
Anti-poverty strategy- Following the closure of Community First a new scheme to promote better health and education in our less economically prosperous communities
Education- Improving education outcomes
Health- improving the health of the Welsh population by improving diet, increasing exercise, continuing the reduction in smoking rates and reducing alcohol in take
Social care- ensuring adequate social care for all those in need of it
Improving the economy- increasing the number of well paid jobs including graduate level jobs in Wales and keeping Welsh students in Wales for their post graduate employment
Improving the environment especially air quality and increasing the number of trees planted in both forests and urban areas
With a Leadership election we have an opportunity to discuss ideas and the way forward for Wales and Welsh Labour. We need to take the opportunity over the summer months. There has been a lot achieved by Welsh Labour Governments but there is still more to do and I do not want to see some of the great progress made so far being destroyed by a Government with the Conservatives in it.
Mike Hedges is the Assembly Member for Swansea East.