Highlights of the Campaign
One of the abiding memories of the campaign is the superb weather. The weather was stunning through most of the campaign and visiting, as I did, all 40 constituencies I only saw rain in two of them – Arfon and Ynys Mon.
The issues that were coming up on the doorsteps were certainly the level of council tax, the level of business rates, and pervasively the state of the health service - the waiting lists, the threats to hospital services, the absence of NHS dentistry – being prime amongst health concerns. There was also general disatificaion with Labour.
I remember meeting Lloyd George’s granddaughter and having a very enjoyable conversation with her about the political scene and about how she remembers staying in 10 Downing Street as a young girl.I remember too, visiting a farm to promote our local food miles campaign, only to find out that the product that they were packaging was coming in from New Zealand!
There was not the same confusion in Wales about the votes as there was in Scotland, but certainly people were confused that they could no longer vote for me in Brecon & Radnorshire, Glyn in Montgomeryshire, and Lisa in Dwyfor Meirionnydd. I am sure that others found similar confusion.
Amusingly after the campaign, a week after the vote, Jonathan Morgan came in to my office brandishing a postal vote that had been completed and sent to him in the Assembly towards his election effort - the stuff of democracy!
