Campaigning in South East Wales
I was out campaigning in Newport with Matt Evans on the day when the smoking ban came into effect. It was slightly surreal to do a broadcast for Radio Two from Betty’s Café in Newport Market. I followed Rhodri doing something from a pub in Pontcanna. We both, of course, supported the smoking ban as this had been an issue that split parties and had been decided on a free vote.
Later that day, nostalgically, I was in Blaenau Gwent campaigning and it brought back many memories of the by-election there, particularly as when I rounded a corner I practically cannoned into Trish Law and then Dai Davies. It was a glorious spring day and reminiscent of some of the weather that we experienced during that epic by-election campaign.
In Monmouth with my researcher, Nick Ramsay, around Abergavenny Market and there are clearly a lot of people in the market who are not just not from Monmouthshire but not from Wales either, including one stall holder who seemed to specialise in selling patriotic Welsh goods but was actually from Hereford!
Generally a very good reception, clearly the state of the NHS is a major issue. Another issue that is raised time and time again, although not necessarily and specifically in these terms, is the strength of the supermarkets and the threats that supermarkets pose to suppliers, to independent shopkeepers and to the environment. It is an issue I feel strongly about myself. We all use supermarkets but we do need to recognise the threats that they do represent to, much of what we hold dear in communities throughout Wales.
