It’s time for a change

As the Met Office forecasts freezing temperatures, it’s crucial to remind everyone who continues to vote for Labour Government what they are truly supporting. The people of Rhondda Cynon Taf have long been under the thumb of Labour at every level—local, regional, and national—but what has that really meant for our communities?

All Labour Members of Parliament from Rhondda Cynon Taf, along with Welsh Labour Senedd Members and local Labour councillors, voted to cut winter fuel payments for our elderly. This means that as the temperatures plummet to -6°C, pensioners in our area will face a harsh winter with ever-increasing bills—bills they can scarcely afford. This, despite the fact that Labour claims to be a “socialist” party dedicated to helping the poor and vulnerable. But when the most vulnerable in society are left to choose between heating their homes and eating, it becomes clear that Labour’s actions do not align with their supposed values.

Why is it that, year after year, the people of the valleys continue to vote for Labour when the party’s policies seem to only keep them in poverty? Labour’s record on education has seen a continuous decline in standards, with Welsh schools slipping further down national league tables. Our children are being failed by a government that is more interested in maintaining power than investing in their future. And after 25 years of Labour running the Welsh NHS, we now have a Health Minister, who, after her failures in healthcare, has been promoted to lead the entire country. If she couldn’t run the health service, how can she be trusted to run the nation?

But it’s not just healthcare and education where Labour has failed. Our public transport system is in a complete mess, with cancelled trains, delayed buses, and a general lack of reliable service. Despite this, the Transport Minister, Ken Skates, suggests that building more roads is the key to “driving prosperity” and improving people’s lives. Labour cut the new road program and no new infrastructure projects. Labour while neglecting the basics that affect everyday life. Meanwhile, Transport for Wales’ Metro project has gone massively over budget, which is hardly surprising given the way contractors have been given free rein without adequate oversight.

Then there’s the ongoing issue of local government and public services. The Labour-run Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is struggling to maintain essential services, yet has spent millions on property acquisitions and investments. For example, they have invested in solar farms and nuclear energy projects—projects that should be handled by central and Welsh governments, not by local councils. Meanwhile, vital services like elderly care, libraries, and street cleaning have been slashed. Our once-proud public services are being hollowed out, while the council continues to make residents pay extra for basic services, such as waste collection and vermin control. You can’t help but wonder where all the money is really going.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is paying £1 million a year to the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal. To date, this has amounted to over £7 million of taxpayers’ money that has been funnelled into this regional body, which many believe is just another layer of bureaucracy with little tangible benefit for local people. While the council claims it has no money for essential services, it continues to pour millions into property and infrastructure projects that serve the interests of developers, not the local population.

It’s hard to see how Labour can justify these priorities. The people of Rhondda Cynon Taf, like many across Wales, are suffering under a Labour government that claims to serve the working-class but continues to enrich itself and its allies. Local councils are being told they have no money to provide basic services, but somehow always find funds to invest in projects that don’t benefit the people who live here.

And now, the Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru parties are pushing to increase the size of the Senedd by 30 Members of the Senedd (MSs), despite the fact that we already have 60 MSs who have done little to address the problems facing the Welsh people. Plans to expand the Senedd to 96 MSs is a clear sign of the lack of accountability and effectiveness that has characterised the Welsh government for the past 25 years. It’s a wasteful proposal that serves only to increase the bloated public sector and expand the reach of a government that has failed to deliver on its promises time and time again.

After 25 years of mismanagement, it’s clear that the Welsh Labour Government—backed by Plaid Cymru—is more interested in protecting its own power and expanding its bureaucracy than in improving the lives of the people it was elected to serve. The continued misallocation of resources, the failure to address real issues like education, health, and local services, and the relentless expansion of government, even when essential services are being cut, leaves us with little choice but to question the priorities of those in charge.

It’s time for a change. We need a government that puts people first, that is accountable for the money it spends, and that focuses on delivering the services and opportunities that our communities truly need. The current system is failing us, and it’s about time the people of Wales woke up to the reality of Labour’s broken promises and priorities.

Plans to expand the Senedd to 96 MSs is a clear sign of the lack of accountability and effectiveness that has characterised the Welsh government for the past 25