PENARTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CANDIDATE CRITICISES LABOUR MPs WHO ABSTAINED OVER WELFARE BUDGET BILL

MPS HAVE been criticised by Plaid Cymru's Cardiff South and Penarth Assembly candidate Dafydd Trystan Davies.

Seven Labour MPs from Wales voted against the welfare budget package which included cuts to working tax credits and child tax credits, and Dr Davies pointed out that among those who abstained was the local MP Stephen Doughty.'

Continue reading at the Penarth Times website ...

SCOTTISH REFERENDUM WAS 'DAVID AND GOLIATH' FIGHT SAY PENARTH PLAID CYMRU CANDIDATES

The Scottish referendum campaign has been described as a David and Goliath contest by Plaid Cymru's UK Parliament and National Assembly candidates for Penarth, Ben Foday and Dafydd Trystan Davies...

Ben Foday (left) and Dafydd Trystan Davies

They said the closeness of the result was remarkable, considering that the UK Government threw everything at Scotland in a bid to get a No result.

In a joint statement, Mr Foday and Dr Davies said: “The Yes campaign focussed on the remoteness of Westminster and how it has failed Scotland over the years. Regardless of the result, we hope this will act as a wake-up call to the people of Wales to realise that we have also had a rough deal from central government over the years.

“The Yes campaign worked tirelessly with a positive and comprehensive case for an independent Scotland. On the doorstep and on street stalls they engaged with and inspired a whole generation.

"The No campaign relied on London-based politicians, backed by a motley crew of luvvies, sporting has-beens and ‘comedians’, by the BBC with its institutionalised bias in favour of the status quo and by an increasingly hysterical right-wing press.

“We are delighted that so many Scots saw through their bribes, blackmail, fear-mongering and bully boy tactics and voted for independence.

“Nothing will be the same again in British politics and we will be interested to see if the UK Government has any sops left over for Wales after it fulfils its commitment to throw at Scotland all the money it offered for a No vote.

“We in Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales, have already started setting out our ambitious plans for our nation to chart its own course.

“We will be campaigning vigorously for the UK General Election next year and for our national election in 2016. It is up to those politicians who want to retain the status quo to outline their vision and plans for the future of Wales - if they have any.”

PLAID CYMRU WARNS OF FRACKING THREAT TO PENARTH

Penarth could be just months away from the start of exploratory drilling in preparation for fracking...  

That's the chilling prospect facing our community if UK Government plans to auction Penarth's geological sub-strata to the highest bidder go ahead, as expected, later this year.

Penarth under threat from hydraulic fracturing

The warning comes from Plaid Cymru Penarth and our UK Parliament and National Assembly candidates, Ben Foday and Dafydd Trystan Davies. 

Mr Foday said: "Fracking has been proved to cause environmental problems, including the release of climate-changing gases, air quality problems, water pollution and large numbers of lorry movements. Health concerns have recently been raised by the Medical Journal of Australia, including bringing radioactivity and heavy metals to the surface from deep underground through fracking, and respiratory problems resulting from air pollution. Fracking is also implicated in falling house prices, with some insurers in the US now refusing to cover fracking-related damages."

Communities across our country are uniting against fracking (image: Frack Free Wales) 

The UK Conservative-Lib Dem coalition has provided a series of increasingly generous tax breaks to shale gas companies in their unseemly rush to drill for gas. Conservative Chancellor George Osborne described his July 2013 tax breaks as the "most generous tax breaks in the world". The Labour Welsh Government is also known to be in favour of this controversial technique, which could take place in areas housing more than half of the population of Wales, with their most senior energy advisor stating they have a "strong interest" in fracking. 

The Welsh Government controls planning for onshore oil and gas, and could put in place a moratorium while it assesses the environmental and health impacts. The Republic of Ireland has just such a moratorium in place for the next two years. However, the Labour Welsh Government once again has shown it has no original opinions and appears to be keen to follow the Tories in London. 

The only party willing to stand up for the communities facing this threat is Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales. 

Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood, who is an Assembly Member for South Wales Central, which includes Penarth, said recently: "While the technology is untested and the harm to the environment is unknown, we cannot allow any part of our land to be fracked beneath our feet."

Ben Foday (left) and Dafydd Trystan Davies: Standing up for Penarth 

Dr Davies warned: "More than half of the Vale of Glamorgan is licensed for fracking, with three exploratory drilling licences already in the hands of fracking companies. The remainder of the Vale, including the whole of Penarth, Sully and Llandough, will be covered by licences due to be auctioned later this year. It's worth bearing in mind that companies will drill horizontally in order to frack, and that they can drill for distances of a mile or more horizontally. Fracking could end up taking place anywhere in Penarth, although it will be deep underground." 

"For the sake of the future generations in Penarth, for the old and infirm who would be most seriously affected by air and water pollution, and for a clean, green future powered by renewable energy, Plaid Penarth has called on the Welsh Government to stand up for the people of Wales and use its authority to implement a moratorium on fracking in Wales until we know the risks can be adequately managed."