News
Your Candidates: Carmarthen West & South Pembs, and Preseli Pembs
THE PEMBROKESHIRE HERALD invited each of Pembrokeshire’s General Election candidates to provide us with a statement asking them to complete the following in 300 words:
Voting for [candidate name] is best for [this constituency] because…
Eight out of eight candidates have now answered our request.
We present them below in alphabetical order and by constituency contested.
CARMARTHEN WEST AND SOUTH PEMBROKESHIRE:
ALISTAIR CAMERON
VOTING for Alistair Cameron is best for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire because he wants to remain within the European Union, tackle the underfunding in our public services and work for new jobs for our area.
Alistair grew up in South Pembrokeshire and he has a positive vision for our area with a stronger economy, better job opportunities, a cleaner environment and better funded public services.
This depends on staying in the European Union which is vital for farming, tourism and future job opportunities. EU membership benefits our Irish ferries and our oil refinery. Staying in will secure a £50 billion Remain Bonus, with the economy 2% larger by 2024-25. This can be invested in our schools, and in tackling in-work poverty and inequality. Staying in allows British citizens to live and work throughout Europe and EU workers to work in our NHS, care homes, farms and tourist attractions. EU action forced us to clean up our beaches and seas.
The Liberal Democrats will tackle the health and social care crises through an extra £7 billion funded through putting 1p on the basic rate of income tax. In the longer term, we support a dedicated, progressive Health and Care Tax, offset by other tax reductions.
We will be carbon-neutral by 2045 through insulating all of Britain’s homes by 2030, ensuring 80% of UK electricity is from renewables by 2030 and planting 60 million trees a year. We will electrify Britain’s railways and ensure all new cars are electric by 2030.
We will provide free childcare for all children with parents in work from nine months and for all children from two years up to starting school.
Contact Alistair on facebook: AlistairCameronPembs, Twitter: AlistairPembs or email: [email protected].
SIMON HART
Voting for Simon Hart is best for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire because leavers and remainers alike share a desire to get Brexit done and get on with the important business of improving the NHS, law and order and sustaining the livelihoods and jobs of those who live and work here.
In my experience though there are plenty of non-Brexit topics that keep us awake at night – our house, our health, our job and our schools. The environment has rocketed up the list of concerns too which is why our new Environment Bill has become a flagship issue.
On top of this we are going to recruit 20,000 extra police officers (50 of them in Dyfed-Powys) invest £34 billion in the NHS (which translates into £1.4 billion for Wales) make major improvements to broadband and mobile phone coverage and invest in schools, housing and jobs – something our Labour colleagues running the Assembly will also receive the funds necessary.
We will increase the national living wage from £8.20 to £10.50 and increase the threshold for National Insurance payments to £12,500 – lifting thousands more people out of paying NI altogether.
I am lobbying strongly against the plans to reopen a Waste Transfer Station in Royal Dockyard in Pembroke Dock and fighting to retain vital services at Withybush Hospital.
I have spent years taking on BT to improve the rollout of superfast broadband and still battle with the Welsh Assembly to improve dangerous junctions such as Nash near Cosheston and Red Roses.
I have now been your MP for almost a decade during which time my local office has helped well over 10,000 local people with a whole range of different issues. Our area is special because we have such a wide range of jobs, from oil to agriculture and such a diverse community. We like to get on, to succeed, to aspire and to look after each other. My ambition is to see that continue.
RHYS THOMAS
Voting for Dr Rhys Thomas, Plaid Cymru, is best for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire because we need an MP who’s lived life: a man with a proven track record of serving his country and saving lives. After 17 years as a front-line army medical officer in war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr Rhys co-led on setting up the Wales Air Ambulance service after retiring as a Lt. Colonel to run the family farm and work as a Consultant Anaesthetist in local hospitals.
“The Wales Air Ambulance service is the best in the world and we should also work towards making our NHS the best in the world,” he said.
“While Labour, which runs the NHS in Wales, is dragging its feet, Plaid sees integrating health and social care as the only sustainable future for both services. Meanwhile, at a time of huge staffing shortage and financial cuts due to the Tory UK government’s failed austerity project, front line NHS staff are doing a heroic job,” said Dr Rhys.
“People are fed up with Tory lies and Labour false promises. Westminster is a toxic mess. This election won’t change that. ‘Let’s get Brexit done’ is a misleading lie. Brexit isn’t an event but a process – a long and hazardous process which will take several years. Wales will badly need a powerful voice to get fair play for our nation in a post-Brexit Britain. Here in west Wales, that means ensuring continuing support for agriculture, fishing and small businesses; investing to create jobs in sustainable energy to boost our economy, mitigate climate change and provide future generations with a clean and safe country to live in.
“Plaid Cymru is the only party that exists to fight Wales’ corner. Wales needs Plaid MPs more than ever before,” said Dr Rhys Thomas.
MARC TIERNEY
Voting for Marc Tierney is best for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire because Marc is totally committed to getting things properly done. Unlike the Tory MP we have had for the last decade, he will get the support we need for jobs, the environment, hospitals and surgeries, social care, schools, training and infrastructure.
Marc said: “This has become an election about hope for a better future. I’m really excited about Labour’s plans for green jobs – including the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon, an incredible boost for West Wales. I’m proud of our clean seas and our green farming and I’ll be a strong advocate for our food and tourism sector. Better technology, free broadband, and training in high skill industries mean our young people will no longer have to get out to get on.
“This has become an election about empathy. Like you, I love living here but we see every day the struggles local people have, just like in other areas. I will support a compassionate government that supports you and your family, with better-resourced services and fairer social security. Asking the very well off to pay a little more tax so that others don’t have to struggle. I support the fair pension fight for women born in the 1950s. Labour will deliver that justice. As your MP, I will always stand by your side.
“And this has become an election about trust. Throughout the campaign, I have met people right across the constituency who have told me they don’t trust Prime Minister Johnson. They have seen him lie on Brexit, on hospital funding and on nurses. They are frightened that a majority would give him free rein to pursue a trade deal with Mr Trump using our NHS. We can’t let that happen and if I am your Labour MP, trust me–it won’t.
Change only happens when you vote for it. Vote Marc Tierney on Thursday.
PRESELI PEMBROKESHIRE:
STEPHEN CRABB
Stephen is the only candidate standing in Preseli Pembrokeshire who is on the side of the majority of local people who want to see Brexit delivered.
Pembrokeshire, Wales and the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU.
All the other parties are trying to block the 2016 referendum vote. We had the referendum, there was a clear result and now it needs to get done. This is a matter of trust.
To become Prime Minister, Jeremy Corbyn has promised another Brexit referendum to try to overturn the result of the 2016 vote. He will also give the Scottish Nationalists a second referendum on breaking up the United Kingdom. This is not in our national interest or in the best interest of Pembrokeshire.
Once Brexit is delivered, we can move on to focus on the country’s other priorities. Lowering crime, record NHS spending and going carbon neutral by 2050.
For more than ten years Stephen has fought tirelessly for local businesses and local jobs. He has an outstanding track record in speaking up for Pembrokeshire in Parliament and has won praise for his ability to work with MPs from other parties to get things done.
Stephen has been a strong voice in opposing moves by the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff to downgrade Withybush Hospital. Welsh Conservatives will never stop fighting for Withybush.
Only the Conservatives have a clear plan for completing the rollout of fast broadband to all homes and eliminating mobile phone not-spots. This will boost the Pembrokeshire economy and help attract new investment.
Stephen can always be relied on to work hard for Pembrokeshire.
PHILIPPA THOMPSON
We need a stronger voice speaking up for us at Westminster. Philippa Thompson returned to live in Pembrokeshire after serving 30 years in the Diplomatic Service, representing and negotiating on behalf of the United Kingdom overseas.
Philippa Thompson has spoken out about the local issues which matter greatly to our community: our local hospital, our local schools. There were just 314 votes between Philippa Thompson and the Tory candidate at the 2017 election. Preseli Pembrokeshire needs a strong Labour MP again.
The Welsh budget has been consistently cut by the Tories at Westminster and that has impacted on the money available to the Welsh Government to invest in our public services, including the NHS. A Labour Government at Westminster means £3.4bn more a year for Wales.
A Labour Government will invest in our country to bring about the real change we need, investing in our public services, protecting working people, and tackling climate change. Labour’s plans for a Green Industrial Revolution offer huge opportunities for Pembrokeshire, as well as helping our country face the challenge of the climate emergency.
Philippa Thompson will use her considerable experience to stand up for Preseli Pembrokeshire at Westminster, so that we are not forgotten here, on the western edge of Wales.
Please vote for Philippa Thompson on Thursday 12 December
CRIS TOMOS
During the first few weeks of campaigning, I have had many people talk on the doorstep about the loss of trust in politics with many of those who voted to leave the EU who now are not sure if they will bother voting again.
Talking to life-long Labour voters that are not sure about Jeremy Corbyn and the billion-pound promises and then the traditional Conservative voters unsure of how they can trust what comes out of Boris Johnson’s mouth.
I can only explain to people on the door that I have worked closely with communities across Pembrokeshire to develop community-led solutions to social and economic issues and that we have to trust in the process of cooperation and plan for a better future for our communities, Pembrokeshire and Wales. None of the Westminster parties have hardly mentioned what support they will give to Wales and the people of Pembrokeshire but Plaid Cymru will deliver change at all levels and ensure the citizen is at the centre of those much needed changes.
Speaking at my campaign launch in October I noted that I entered politics to make a difference—from fighting school closures to working with communities on energy projects and community facilities. We live in tumultuous times, but we mustn’t lose focus on what is at stake. Each of us needs to commit all our energy to transform our communities and transforming our nation. That’s what I intend to do as Plaid Cymru’s candidate in Preseli, and it is what I would do if I had the privilege of representing our constituency.
At a time when politics seem to be toxic, Plaid Cymru does offer hope and trust to the people of Pembrokeshire and Wales, with recent polls showing they are the most trusted party to represent Welsh values in Westminster. I will also represent the values of the people of Pembrokeshire.
THOMAS HUGHES
The last few weeks has seen a largely Presidential style campaign in which television has largely concentrated on Boris and Jeremy. The other parties have largely been forgotten, including the Liberal Democrats and it has been difficult to get our message heard.
I am a passionate and proud Remainer. The PM tells us that a vote for the Conservatives “Will Get Brexit Done”. But we all know that leaving on 31st January 2020 is not the end of the Brexit saga. It is the start of years of negotiations and uncertainty.
The UK was once one of the strongest growing economies in the G7 nations. Brexit has brought it to a near standstill as we have had over 3 years of dithering by the Conservative who have been in power for the last 9 years.
I grew up in Fishguard and was educated at Ysgol Bro Gwaun and then went to Aberystwyth University to study International Politics and Military History. The family home is in Fishguard and both my parents work as nurses for the NHS.
I was a member of the Fishguard Sea Cadets and I am currently an Army Reservist with the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Welsh.
I have been a member of the Welsh Liberal Democrats for a few years now and I am a strong proponent of electoral reform. In this election, we have seen many talk of tactical voting. This is a strong reason for voting reform as First Past the Post has failed us and I strongly believe that we need a system where EVERY vote counts. You should be able to vote for the party or candidate in a system whereby a party gets a fairer share of seats that reflects the support it has.
As well as being opposed to leaving the EU, particularly because of its negative impact on agriculture, the NHS and the economy, I have strong concerns about the wellbeing of his community and of young people across Pembrokeshire.
Business
Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost
RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.
The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”
SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION
As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.
Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.
“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”
ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS
An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.
“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.
The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.
Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES
The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.
The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.
News
Milford Haven man admits to downloading indecent images of children
A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after admitting to downloading over 1,000 indecent images and videos of children, including highly explicit content involving young children. Gareth MacDonald, now 23, appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos across various devices.
The court heard that police visited MacDonald’s home, which was the scene of protests after his arrest, last year following intelligence suggesting that child abuse images had been accessed there.
Officers spoke with MacDonald’s mother at the door before entering to conduct a search.
During the operation, two mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, and two hard drives were seized.
MacDonald initially spoke to one of the officers privately, admitting to downloading the images and saying, “It’s me.” Later, in formal interviews, he revealed that he had grown “bored with legal pornography” roughly a year earlier, knowing that what he was doing was illegal but continuing regardless.
Prosecutor Emily Bennett informed the court that MacDonald’s devices held 15 Category A images, the most severe classification, 26 Category B images, and 960 Category C images. Some content depicted children as young as nine, and the most serious material involved pre-teen children in distressing situations.
Bennett also noted that MacDonald had briefly joined an online group where members self-identified as paedophiles, although he left without sharing any material. Cleaning software was also found on his devices.
Defense counsel Dan Griffiths acknowledged that MacDonald’s actions had crossed the custodial threshold, but argued that there was “a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He highlighted MacDonald’s cooperation with police and his willingness to comply with rehabilitation programmes.
Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the sentencing, addressed MacDonald, saying, “For some considerable time, you have accessed this kind of imagery, fully aware of the harm it represents.” He acknowledged that MacDonald largely isolated himself and stayed at home, factors he considered in the sentencing.
MacDonald was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and participate in the Horizon programme. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.
News
Welsh teenager jailed for creating 3D-printed gun at home
A TEENAGER who assembled parts for a viable semi-automatic firearm using a 3D printer has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
Owain Roberts, 19, purchased nuts, bolts, steel barrels, and metal rods online, constructing components of an FGC-9 gun with the aid of a 3D printer.
Detectives said that this case marks the first of its kind in Gwent, where Roberts admitted to manufacturing a firearm component. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 14).
In April, firearms officers executed warrants at two Newport addresses connected to Roberts. Seized items included a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, and parts for an FGC-9 firearm.
PC Tom Meazey, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, stated: “Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives. To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate. Roberts’s reckless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm placed people at direct risk.”
This rare and complex investigation involved support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Roberts received a prison sentence of four years and nine months.
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