BARRY is desired in this general election. That’s been made clear when Rishi Sunak began his election campaign in town and now Labour has rolled in their very own 'battle bus' to try win the hearts and minds of voters ahead of judgement day (better know as GE day) on July 4.
Vale of Glamorgan is often described as a 'bellwether seat' (a seat that indicates trends) and the Vale’s biggest town is key to the county.
However, politicians have a lot to do, with many disillusioned by politics.
When we went out and about to meet the people of Barry and find out their thoughts on the election, Marnie Adams told us: “I have always voted Labour until the last [general election]. I don’t really want to vote for any of them.
“I don’t know what is true and what is not, so I have no idea who I am going to vote for.”
It’s a feeling felt by many, so, B&D spoke to three candidates fighting for the Vale seat, including the big two of Tory candidate Alun Cairns and Labour runner Kanishka Narayan.
Cairns emphasised his track record in the Vale, including helping Barry get £20m of regeneration for a new water sports facility at Barry Docks.
Narayan pointed to 14 years of “Tory chaos”, deriding the “Liz Truss experiment” and reminding people that Labour has a “fully funded plan” to “get the country back on track”.
This was a sentiment echoed by Wales Labour leader and Welsh Government first minister Vaughan Gething when he was in Barry on Sunday, June 30, striding off the battle bus with the vigour of victorious general.
Polls do suggest this election could be a landslide for Labour, however the vote is not cast yet and Sunak has come out swinging in recent weeks repeatedly advising people not to “surrender the economy”, or anything else for that matter, to the Labour party.
However, Gething disagrees, saying it's time to end the “chaos”.
“In four days’ time, the country faces a big choice,” said Gething during his visit to Barry.
“A vote for five more years of Conservative chaos, or a vote for change, for two Labour governments to work in partnership together. For the next four days, we are out reminding people change only happens if you vote Labour on July 4.”
Vaughan Gething off the battle bus and into the hands of Labour candidate for the Vale Kanishka Narayan (Image: Labour)
Alun Cairns argues differently. In our sit down with him the Conservative candidate, who has held the VOG seat since 2010, was scathing of Labour’s record in Wales.
“The way the Vale Council has taken the community for granted is disgraceful,” Cairns told us.
“We are 27 years of a Labour Government in Wales. This election is about making a stand against Labour’s dominance in this country.”
Alun Cairns, with Rishi Sunak, has 'unfinished business' in the Vale (Image: PA)
Labour candidate for the Vale Narayan has emphasised how hard he is willing to work for the Vale having canvassed (in his words) thousands of doors.
“It’s been great welcoming the battle bus to the Vale,” said Narayan. “We are out speaking with hundreds of people every day to show them that there is an alternative to Rishi’s Conservative chaos, it doesn’t have to be like this and change is possible, if you vote for it.”
Narayan says the Tories have cost the tax payer a lot of money while in power (Image: Supplied)
And then there’s the man of Barry wanting to fight for Barry in Westminster, Plaid Cymru’s candidate Ian Johnson, who told us what makes the town special.
“The people make it special,” said Johnson. “The history in Barry is about ordinary people getting on with life, coming into Barry and creating a community.
Ian Johnson says his extensive knowledge of Barry will be a valuable asset in Westminster (Image: Ian Johnson)
“In the last decade we have had Brexit, austerity, Truss, all of which really affected people’s lives. This is a chance to change that, and Plaid are strong in the Vale.
“If we can scale that up and win the election here, then the people of this county will have someone who instinctively knows the area and that would be a valuable asset in Westminster.”
On July 4, the choice is yours.
The General Election takes place on July 4. To see the list of candidates standing in the Vale, click here.
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