Home News Welsh Labour campaign "bigger, bolder and rooted in the hopes and aspirations of Welsh communities"

As Welsh Labour's largest and most effective local election campaign ever enters it's final phase, Welsh Labour Leader Carwyn Jones AM and Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain MP, joined candidates, community activists, endorsers and Labour Party activists in Newport today (Tuesday 17 April) for Welsh Labour's national "Get Out The Vote" campaign event.

Six Labour community Champions shared their stories at the event - held at University of Wales Newport, City Campus - and outlined why they will be doing all they can to secure a Labour win in their own area on May 3rd.

Following the event, Welsh Labour Leader Carwyn Jones hit  the campaign trail across Wales for two days, visiting Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Wrexham and Flint.

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and Local Election Campaign Chair Peter Hain said:

"Welsh Labour's local election campaign has been unlike any other - bigger, bolder and more firmly rooted than ever in the hopes and aspirations of the communities we are proud to be part of.

"While the Tories are running a campaign dictated from London, and the Lib Dems are fielding a quarter fewer candidates than in 2008, Welsh Labour is blazing a trail with more candidates, hundreds of thousands of doorstep conversations and local campaigns tailored to the needs of local communities.

"And the message coming back from these conversations is loud and clear. People feel angry and betrayed by the savage, reckless cuts to services and family incomes being imposed by the Tory / Lib Dem UK Government. They are also angry at the appalling way that the Tories, Libs and Plaid - often working in cahoots - have run local services into the ground in the Councils they control.They want to see change, and want to see their hopes and aspirations realised in the communities they live in. More importantly, they are saying loud and clear that they are backing Welsh Labour as the only party to make this happen."

In his speech, First Minister and Welsh Labour Leader Carwyn Jones said:

"This is a very different campaign from Welsh Labour.

"Not driven from the top down, as you are seeing from the Tories and the others – but a new style of Labour campaign that is grounded in the stories, abilities and community activities of our people.

"Because our campaign will not be national, it will be local. No blanket promises from Labour councils about the choices we will make in power, because we know that the right answer for a community in Ringland isn’t necessarily the right answer for a family in Wrexham.

"The local elections on May 3rd are vital for Welsh Labour – they are vital elections for Wales. Will your local council work with the Welsh Labour Government to shield the most vulnerable from the Tory assault? If it is Labour-run, then yes it will.

"Will your local council put education first, and ensure more money and support is reaching the classroom? If it is Labour-run, then yes it will.

"Will your local councillors be accessible, visible, will they listen to you and act on your priorities? If they are Welsh Labour councillors, then yes, they will.

"And of course, only a vote for Labour will send a message to David Cameron and Nick Clegg.

"Only a vote for Labour will send a message that they need to act – as we are doing here in Wales – to tackle rising youth unemployment. Only a vote for Labour will send a message that Wales rejects the Tory / Lib Dem budget which gave tax breaks for millionaires, paid for by tax rises for our pensioners - and by the cruel cutting of support for families in work struggling to make ends meet."