With all the political turmoil at Westminster, Pembrokeshire Liberal Democrats are pleased to announce it prospective candidates for the planned elections for the Welsh Assembly in 2021 and the next Westminster election due in 2022. There has been much talk of another UK General Election because of the gridlock over the Brexit negotiations, but today, a day is a long time in British politics so no one knows what is likely to happen. Andrew Lye, the Chair of the Pembrokeshire Liberal Democrats has announced Alistair Cameron will be the prospective candidate for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency and Tom Hughes in Preseli Pembrokeshire.
ABOUT ALISTAIR CAMERON Alistair Cameron grew up in South Pembrokeshire. He works as an English teacher at a further education college and is learning Welsh (Canolradd level).
Alistair Cameron has campaigned for a People’s Vote on leaving the European
Union. Once the government has agreed its terms for leaving these should be put
before the British people in a referendum and we should be given the option of
voting to remain in the EU.
“Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire benefit from being in the EU. Farming, tourism and manufacturing all rely on our European links. Our ferries at Fishguard and Pembroke Dock need easy access to Ireland. Leaving the EU could be devastating for our local economy. Once we know our terms for leaving, we should be given the opportunity in a referendum to decide whether we would prefer to remain in the EU.” Said Alistair Cameron. Alistair Cameron adds the he will campaign for more job opportunities in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and better transport links with the rest of Britain. He said: “Some of our communities have high unemployment giving people little chance for making a better life. I will work hard for these communities to attract investment into our area and give people better opportunities. I will also campaign for better assistance from the Welsh and UK governments to help our councils meet the massive challenges which they face so that they can support our public services and help local people”. Alistair is very concerned about the challenges which our health and social care services face which will grow over time. Alistair said, “Our health and care services are struggling and we need to recruit more doctors, nurses, care workers and health professionals. We are not helped by the prospect of Brexit and I will work hard to help our services recruit both health and care professionals”.
ABOUT TOM HUGHES
Tom Hughes was raised in and around Fishguard, where he attended Ysgol Bro Gwaun, before going to Aberystwyth University to study International Politics and Military History. Tom has worked and volunteered in the constituency over several years. He is currently the Chair of Rhyddfrydwyr Ifanc Cymru (The Welsh Young Liberals), and represents the Welsh party’s youth to the Federal Young Liberals.
Tom Hughes has big concerns about the wellbeing of his community and of young people across Pembrokeshire. Because of his experiences growing up in rural Pembrokeshire, he is a strong supporter of improving the local infrastructure and public transport, to make travel easier for all. He also views Climate Change as one of the most pressing issues of the day, as it will affect everyone and be his and the next generation who will suffer most because of it.
Tom Hughes said “I am standing for the Welsh Liberal Democrats because, even when the cards have been stacked against them, Liberal Democrats have a record of working hard and delivering well for the country. The eleven Liberal Democrat MPs punch well above their weight at Westminster, and Kirsty Williams embodies the very best of Welsh politics in the Senedd. Through the Welsh Liberal Democrats, we can all demand better for Pembrokeshire.” Tom Hughes added, “There has been a
haemorrhaging of support away from both the Conservative and Labour parties as they have failed to meet the challenges caused by Brexit. Many are now turning
to the Welsh Liberal Democrats to provide a way to get us out of this crisis”.
ANDREW LYE, Chair of Pembrokeshire Liberal Democrats said “With the never
ending uncertainty at Westminster due to the paralysis that Brexit has brought
us for almost 3 years now, it is important that the liberal voice of remain is
heard as we demand better. I am proud that for the first time in many years, we
have candidates in place who will be going out into their constituencies,
engaging with the public and businesses. Both Labour and the Conservatives are
losing support in the polls as they haemorrhage support. Since the EU
Referendum in 2016, the Liberal Democrats were the first party to clearly state
that we are the party of staying in the EU and everything that has happened
since shows how much the we will all lose. Pembrokeshire has attracted the
highest level of support from the EU for the Structural Funds 2014-2020
programme period. What will happen to this level of support when (or if) we
leave the EU? Will Westminster or Cardiff ensure the funding continues at the
current levels?” Andrew Lye added “We are fortunate that we can put
forward 2 candidates. For the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
constituency, Alistair Cameron is a proven campaigner with years of experience,
including in local government as a councillor. He is also a list candidate in
the forthcoming European Parliament elections on 23rd May. Contrary to some
people’s beliefs, we do have elect MEP’s to represent the UK at the European
Parliament and it’s not run by unelected bureaucrats as some tell us. In Tom
Hughes, we have youth and promise for the future, along with his years of being
involved locally and playing a role in university politics at Aberystwyth. Tom
has produced reports for our Executive and I welcome the opportunity to support
Tom as we have seen recently, the young lead the recent debate on climate
change”.
