- European candidates launched with promise to reconnect with Wales' grassroots

WELSH Labour will launch its candidates for the European parliamentary election next year with a promise to reconnect the party with hardworking families across Wales.

The party launched its candidates at a youth skills project in Cwmbran, which has received £1.17m of Labour-won European structural funds. Welsh Labour used the visit to unveil its new 'In touch: On the ground' campaign.

Led by the party's European candidates, Eluned Morgan, Derek Vaughan, Lisa Stevens and Gareth Williams, the party will:


• Visit important community projects across the whole of Wales
• Hold local public meetings to hear people's views
• Visit local towns and cities across the country with special street stalls, bringing senior politicians to people's doorstep
• Complement the on-the-street strategy with a new web initiative allowing people to stay in touch with the party on the internet

ELUNED MORGAN MEP said:

"The SAVY project is a great example of how Labour has worked to deliver for people on the ground. Labour fought for and delivered the £1.3 billion EU structural funds that are working here in Cwmbran and across the country to up-skill and regenerate our communities.

“Of course, the local elections were difficult for Welsh Labour and sent us the signal that the public want to engage more with us on the ground. They want to be able to have more access to their politicians and need to know that they are being listened to.

"That is why we are launching 'In touch: On the ground' campaign. We will travel the length and breadth of Wales, seeing what is going on in vital grassroots projects, talking to workers and volunteers about their communities.

"We will engage in discussion and debate with ordinary people, holding open public meetings and street stalls in high streets across the country.

"We will show the people of Wales that we are fighting for them locally, in the Assembly, in Parliament and in Europe."

DEREK VAUGHAN said:

"Although the local election results were difficult for Labour across the whole of Britain, I was proud that my council was the only Labour-run authority to increase its majority.

"I believe that when you listen to people and show them you are on their side then they will offer you their support. That is exactly what our European team will do.

"We will stick up for Welsh workers and continue to win important rights for them in the workplace, in stark contrast to the Tories, who want to scrap the Social Chapter. We will take tough action to keep our country safe from the threat of global terrorism and crime.

"Most of all we will roll up our sleeves and get on with the job of working hard for the people of Wales and never stop listening."