Plaid Cymru vote up by 50% in Clwyd West

Commenting on last night’s election result in Clwyd West, Plaid Cymru candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd said:

“We increased Plaid’s vote by over 50% in Clwyd West and secured one of the biggest swings to Plaid in the whole of the country.

“Our campaign has reinvigorated the party locally with new members, activists and supporters coming forward to help with our work and we are grateful to them and to the thousands of voters who have supported us.

“This result gives us a strong platform upon which to build for next year’s Assembly election where Plaid was just 1800 votes behind last time.”

Llyr on the BBC Politics Show

You can see Plaid Cymru Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd here on the BBC Politics Show - around 48 minutes into the programme.

Big Day in the Bay

Thanks to Plaid Cymru's team in Clwyd West for all the hours they have been putting in, day in, day out.

We had a fantastic turnout in Colwyn Bay on Saturday, with over 20 people out working. We delivered many thousands of leasflets and spoke to hundreds of people.

Hustings in Ruthin tonight organised by the Ruthin and District Civic Association - 7 p.m. at Canolfan Awelon.

The photos shows Llyr Huws Gruffydd and the team as they assemble in Colwyn Bay

Llyr's pledges to people with Parkinson's

Plaid Cymru Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd has pledged his support for the Parkinson’s UK manifesto, 3 Pledges for Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s UK – the support and research charity - is committed to improving life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s, and the charity has launched its manifesto, which puts forward the views of people affected by Parkinson’s to a future Government.

Llyr Huws Gruffydd said:

“I wanted to pledge my support for people with Parkinson’s after talking to Parkinson’s UK. I can well understand some of the problems faced by carers and people with the condition, and I have signed up to the Parkinson’s UK manifesto.

"If I’m elected, I will do everything in my power to make sure people affected by Parkinson’s have all the support they need.”

The manifesto highlights three main issues that people affected by Parkinson’s want to see tackled:

· Fair access to health and social care for everyone with Parkinson’s

· The right benefits and financial support for those affected

· Government investment in a cure and better treatments

These issues are economically beneficial. The economy as a whole will benefit from people with Parkinson’s getting the right health and social care. Parkinson’s nurses could cut outpatient care, saving the NHS around £million a year in England.

Val Buxton, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Information at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Too many people with Parkinson’s can’t get the support, services or treatment they need to manage their condition.

“People with Parkinson’s can get a raw deal we want as many candidates as possible to sign up to our manifesto and highlight the issues that we’ve raised.

”Our manifesto pledges make financial sense for the next Government. The NHS can save around £56million by offering the right support through nurses and therapists. And Parkinson’s nurses alone could save the NHS around £6million a year in England by cutting outpatient care.”

For information and support call the Parkinson’s UK free confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303 or visit parkinsons.org.uk.

Parkinson’s UK is the new name for the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom.

Plaid ready for Abergele

Plaid Cymru's Clwyd West campaigners were joined by Dafydd Wigley this week to knock doors in Abergele. The former Plaid leader is pictured with Llyr Huws Gruffydd and some of the team.

Great day in Colwyn Bay

A large team of helpers meant that we delivered many thousands of leaflets around Colwyn Bay on Saturday, and also had the chance to meet quite a few residents taking advantage of the good weather to spend time in their gardens.

Thanks to you all for your good wishes and thanks to the Plaid Cymru Clwyd West team for your tremendous support.

Photo: Llyr Huws Gruffydd get back to work after a brief break for lunch on Saturday in Colwyn Bay

Plaid Cymru urge stores: think Welsh

Plaid Cymru’s Clwyd West candidate Llyr Huws Gruffydd is urging stores in the constituency to ensure the availability of Welsh milk on their shelves. He has expressed disappointment that the Cooperative and Somerfield are not stocking Welsh-branded milk.

Llyr Huws Gruffydd said:

“Some supermarkets sell milk clearly labelled as Welsh, but this is by no means universal. The Welsh dairy industry should be supported and I urge stores to ensure the availability of Welsh milk.

“I am particularly disappointed that the Cooperative is not stocking Welsh milk at the moment, and this applies to Somerfield, now that it is part of the Cooperative. This was clear when I called into the Somerfield store at Pensarn, Abergele, as well as the Cooperative in Ruthin, and they did not stock Welsh milk.

“I hope this is a temporary supply problem, as it is a blemish on the Coop’s record of supporting the Welsh economy, especially such a staple product. It’s essential that we support our local agriculture industry as much as possible and I believe that supermarkets have a role to play to help consumers proactively purchase Welsh milk.

“The Coop has a fine record in striving to provide Welsh produce in its stores, as well as placing great emphasis on fair trade and organic produce, but I look forward to them once more showing their support to local producers by stocking their shelves with bottles of milk bearing the Welsh flag.”

Llyr added:

“Over recent years, supermarkets have made efforts to provide beef and lamb originating from Wales on their shelves. I believe that it’s about time that they make more of an effort to do the same for Welsh milk.”

The photograph shows Llyr Huws Gruffydd at the Somerfield store at Pensarn.