Plaid Cymru Response to Labour Regarding Fire Cuts!

With reference to Cllr Bill Thomas’ post attacking Plaid Cymru members at the Llanelli Rural Council meeting of 11th June.

It’s not untypical of members of the Labour Party in Llanelli to hide behind the Fire Authority with reference to changes in local fire service provision. They’re doing the same with health care provision in Llanelli by blaming the Hywel Dda Health Board.

Let’s be clear about this. It’s the Welsh Labour Government in the Senedd in Cardiff that is implementing these financial cuts that lead to a reduction in public service provision.

There’s no point either in just blaming the Con/Dem Government in London in cutting back the amount of money the Welsh Government receives. Older readers will remember that this whole sequence of privatisation of and cuts to public services began in 1976 when the then Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer Dennis Healey secured a loan from the IMF. A condition of the loan was privatisation of public services.

Workers were castigated in the media during the winter of 1978/9 for striking in objection to public works being put out to private tender.

When Labour returned to power in London in 1997 they enthusiastically continued with the programme of privatisation of and cuts to public services that had been carried out by the Thatcher and Major governments. Make no mistake, if Labour win the 2015 Westminster election this programme of cuts and privatisation will continue just as with the other two capitalist parties.

It’s worth remembering also that the Labour Government of 1997 – 2010 did nothing to repeal the anti trade union laws that were implemented by the previous Conservative governments.

So, Labour, stop blaming others!

Plaid Cymru in Llanelli, like our national party in Cardiff, is fully committed to providing first rate public services in fire safety, education, health care and social services as well as developing a first rate infrastructure for our country. All of this of course to be backed up by developing a strong Welsh economy.

Plaid in Government in the Senedd could achieve these aims.

Martin Davies

Plaid Cymru Hengoed Rural Councillor

Deputy Leader of Llanelli Rural Council