Hit the streets; Let’s win for Wales

Party election boss rallies local Plaid champions ahead of elections

Plaid Cymru is ready to go the extra mile and win for Wales - this will be the message from Alun Ffred Jones AM in his keynote speech at the party’s Spring Conference in Ffos Las, Carmarthenshire.

Addressing delegates at the conference, he will highlight Plaid Cymru’s glowing legacy in local government which gives the party a solid foundation on which they can fight the next election.

As the local elections approach, Mr Jones will remind delegates that Plaid Cymru councillors have worked tirelessly in wards across Wales, delivering local services, protecting and creating jobs and
investing in the community and will call on activists to go the extra mile in the weeks ahead to deliver even more for our communities and nation.

Plaid Cymru’s Alun Ffred Jones AM will say:

“Plaid Cymru has proven that we can govern effectively at a local level.

“All across Wales we have councillors going the extra mile and delivering in Plaid Cymru’s name. We have governed effectively in Gwynedd and Caerphilly, and are in strong coalition partnerships in Cardiff and Conwy.

“We have protected and created jobs in these difficult times.

“We  have protected and improved local services.

“We have individual councillors who champion their local areas, such as Fiona Cross in Torfaen who has won a UK-wide award for her good work.

“We will leave this conference later today with a renewed sense of what we can achieve for our nation.

“Now is the time to spread the word of how Plaid will always go the extra mile for our communities.

“Now is the time to hit the streets and win for Wales.” 

60,000 more job seekers than jobs shows need for urgent action

Labour must wake up to drastic job situation says Plaid

Labour needs to wake up to the drastic situation facing people looking for work in Wales.　 That was the message today from Plaid Cymru’s economy spokesperson Alun Ffred Jones AM.　 The Plaid Cymru AM for Arfon pointed to official figures which show that there are over 60 thousand more people looking for jobs, than there are jobs available.　 Mr Jones said that he hopes that these　 shocking figures will make Labour realise just how serious the situation is for people living with the reality of the current economic situation.　

The figures, published by the Office for National Statistics, show that there are 76,210 people in Wales looking for work with only 16,094 live unfilled vacancies being advertised in job centres.　 The situation is particularly bad in the Blaenau Gwent local authority where the figures show 17 people chasing every job vacancy.　

Plaid Cymru’s Economy spokesperson Alun Ffred Jones AM said;

"I hope that these shocking figures will act as a wake up call to this lethargic Labour government.　 The situation for people on the ground looking for work is drastic, with sixty thousand more people looking for work than there are jobs being advertised.　 The fact that so many people are being forced to chase the same jobs is a stark illustration of the reality of the deepening economic crisis.　　

"Labour has wasted the best part of a year sitting on its hands, these figures clearly show that this cannot be allowed to continue.　 Plaid Cymru will maintain the pressure on Labour to take action to boost the economy. Labour needs to sit up and take action to kick start the economy for 2012.　 We will continue to press the Labour government to adopt our positive proposals to protect jobs and help small businesses, as well as taking forward our ‘Build for Wales’ plan which could create up to 50,000 jobs, providing a much-needed economic boost in 2012."