0:00:20 > 0:00:24Hello and welcome here to the Senedd on the eve of the local elections.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Have you decided which way to vote tomorrow?
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Or maybe you've had enough of politicians and intend to stay away.
0:00:31 > 0:00:35Tonight, a final opportunity to go through what all four parties are offering
0:00:35 > 0:00:39and for you to decide who deserves your cross and why.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43We're joined by four hopeful candidates.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46Sara Evans-Fear from Plaid Cymru. Huw Thomas from Labour.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49The Liberal Democrat, Elgan Morgan.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52And Oliver Owen from the Conservatives. Welcome to you all.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56The weather forecast for tomorrow is wet and windy
0:00:56 > 0:00:59but what about the hopes of the parties in the local elections?
0:00:59 > 0:01:02James Williams has been looking back at the campaign
0:01:02 > 0:01:05and looking ahead at what shape the parties will be in
0:01:05 > 0:01:07by the end of the counting on Friday.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Carmarthen County Council is one of the largest councils in Wales.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Tomorrow, voters will have the opportunity to vote councillors,
0:01:13 > 0:01:17not only into this chamber, but into chambers across Wales,
0:01:17 > 0:01:18apart from Anglesey.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23For the next five years, these are the people who will run many of the services we depend on daily.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27The political climate has changed since the last local elections
0:01:27 > 0:01:31and the four main parties have been trying to persuade voters
0:01:31 > 0:01:34that they should run those services.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40These local elections will be a big test
0:01:40 > 0:01:42for the main parties for different reasons.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45But who will be celebrating by the weekend?
0:01:45 > 0:01:49I'm expecting a very good night for the Welsh Labour Party.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53The opinion polls are looking very favourable for them
0:01:53 > 0:01:55in Wales at the moment.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59They're looking promising throughout Britain, but especially in Wales.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02You also have to remember that the Labour Party
0:02:02 > 0:02:06had a poor night the last time these elections were held.
0:02:06 > 0:02:092008 was a low point for the Labour Party.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13So if you combine the fact that they started from a low point,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17and the fact that the opinion polls are very favourable,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21I expect them to win dozens of seats.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23150 seats, maybe.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Since the Budget, it's been a difficult time for the Westminster Government.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29An omni-shambles even.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32And some say that could affect the performance
0:02:32 > 0:02:34of the coalition parties.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38If the elections had taken place two months ago,
0:02:38 > 0:02:44I think the Tories and the Liberals may have done better
0:02:44 > 0:02:47than they will do now.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49The Budget is being blamed for a lot of things,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52but it's not the budget as such that's the problem.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57The problem is the fact that neither the Government or its ministers
0:02:57 > 0:03:01have explained why they have reached the decisions
0:03:01 > 0:03:03that are in the Budget.
0:03:03 > 0:03:07If the Liberal Democrats stay where they are in Wales, that will be a miracle.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09It is just not going to happen.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13They have 25% fewer candidates in Wales this time around.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17They don't have candidates in some of the seats that they hold at the moment.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20So they have no hope of remaining where they are.
0:03:20 > 0:03:22The question is, how badly will they do?
0:03:22 > 0:03:24And what about Plaid Cymru?
0:03:24 > 0:03:27They have a new leader, but what about a new beginning?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30It's important for Plaid Cymru.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34The results will be important with regard to the hopes
0:03:34 > 0:03:40and expectations people have for the new leader.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44If Plaid Cymru doesn't benefit and do relatively well
0:03:44 > 0:03:49compared to last time, it shows a thumbs down to Leanne Wood.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53If they have a disappointing night, which is a strong possibility, I think,
0:03:53 > 0:03:59people outside Plaid Cymru will start pointing the finger
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and use that as a stick to hit her with.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06Of course, the results are important to all the parties
0:04:06 > 0:04:09and the time to argue their case is running out.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Huw, there are local issues and we'll discuss those in a minute.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18There are local patterns with regard to voting as well.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20But it would be disappointing
0:04:20 > 0:04:24if Labour didn't do very well tomorrow in the context that exists.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28We're confident of having a good night to be honest
0:04:28 > 0:04:31because as Richard Wyn Jones said, 2008 was a difficult year.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34But now, we've fought a positive campaign.
0:04:34 > 0:04:40Every local Labour council has a local manifesto and local promises
0:04:40 > 0:04:43instead of having a one size fits all approach.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46You say that, and there are local manifestoes,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50but the consistent message from Peter Hain and Carwyn Jones is,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53this is your opportunity to send a message to Westminster.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57This is your opportunity to tell David Cameron and Nick Clegg what you think.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01That suggests that it's they who are unpopular, rather than you who are popular.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05The point is, the people of Wales are suffering
0:05:05 > 0:05:07because of the most right wing government
0:05:07 > 0:05:10we've seen for a generation.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13That's having a real negative effect on the people of Wales.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16I think it's perfectly right to say that this is an opportunity
0:05:16 > 0:05:20to send a message to Westminster and say that the people would prefer
0:05:20 > 0:05:24to see Labour government because they expect the cuts to be slowed down.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Elgan Morgan, if Labour get the main headlines on Friday morning,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30the other main story is likely to be
0:05:30 > 0:05:33how much of a hammering you've had as a party.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35What do you expect?
0:05:35 > 0:05:38I expect us to do better than everyone expects.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41We'll talk later about local things,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45but what people are often telling us is that they like the work
0:05:45 > 0:05:49that Liberal Democrat councillors do locally in their communities.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54We have to remember that this is a council election.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58You're not offering an option for many people in Wales.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00You have 25% fewer candidates this time.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03What about your supporters who want to vote for you,
0:06:03 > 0:06:05but there's nobody standing?
0:06:05 > 0:06:10All the parties are finding it difficult to find candidates.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13But every other party have increased their candidates.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16But not one party puts candidates forward
0:06:16 > 0:06:18in every seat in the country.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21There are some seats where nobody puts anyone forward.
0:06:21 > 0:06:27The important thing is that the Liberal Democrat councillors
0:06:27 > 0:06:30work hard for the communities.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Oliver, James used that lovely word,
0:06:32 > 0:06:36it might be a terrible word for a Tory, "omni-shambles".
0:06:36 > 0:06:38How does that feel as a candidate?
0:06:38 > 0:06:41You're out there, working hard, you've prepared your leaflets,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44and then you see all this stuff on pasty tax, granny tax,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Jeremy Hunt and so on.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Does that dishearten you?
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Being on the doorstep lifts your hopes.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54People see us as local people who live in their communities.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56They know we work hard for them
0:06:56 > 0:06:58and we want to change things and work on their behalf.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02But national politics does have an effect, doesn't it?
0:07:02 > 0:07:05We saw that four years ago.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08What I would say is that our traditional and ardent supporters
0:07:08 > 0:07:12have faith in us at the moment.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16They're still voting for us. I am completely sure about that.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20Sara Evans-Fear, Leanne Wood has made it clear that this isn't about her.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23She hasn't been in the job for very long.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25And yet, if she doesn't break through
0:07:25 > 0:07:28in places like your patch in the valleys
0:07:28 > 0:07:30and where she comes from, that's a problem, isn't it?
0:07:30 > 0:07:33I don't think so. I don't agree with you there.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Leanne has only been in the job for eight weeks, as you said.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39I think we're breaking new ground here
0:07:39 > 0:07:45with a prominent leader like Leanne, who has new and strong ideas.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48I think it's an opportunity for us as a party to grow.
0:07:48 > 0:07:53I don't think it'll be a criticism of her. As Elgan said, this...
0:07:53 > 0:07:56But you have to break through more in the valleys
0:07:56 > 0:07:58as a result of her appointment.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Yes, I would hope so, especially in the Rhondda
0:08:00 > 0:08:03because that's where Leanne is from.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Of course, I would hope that would have an effect
0:08:05 > 0:08:08because the effect on the doorstep has been very positive.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Oliver, let me come to you.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14We saw this interesting poll. Marks out of 10 for all the leaders.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Carwyn Jones was at the top, Nick Clegg was at the bottom.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Leanne Wood was second.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22But Andrew R.T. Davies is almost as unpopular as Nick Clegg.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Does that worry you?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26I don't see that on the doorstep.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Nobody has talked about the Assembly during these local elections.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34What I would say to Sara is that maybe Leanne Wood is not as popular
0:08:34 > 0:08:37in some of the areas that I canvas in
0:08:37 > 0:08:39as maybe she is in the valleys.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Maybe she's not.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44If you're talking about the Queen's visit
0:08:44 > 0:08:48to the cathedral in Llandaff last week,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Leanne Wood did not want to go,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53and it was a point that was raised a lot.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Is it a point that's been raised?
0:08:55 > 0:08:59It's been raised, but my response and what I say to people
0:08:59 > 0:09:03is that there is a lot of cynicism in politics at the moment.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06A lot of politicians say one thing
0:09:06 > 0:09:09and do something completely different.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12I think there's also a lot of respect towards Leanne
0:09:12 > 0:09:17because she has this strong opinion about things like the Royal family.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21She's republican of course, and she sticks to her opinion.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23A lot of people respect her for that
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and people can see both sides of the debate.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31Huw Thomas, Carwyn Jones came out on top of that poll Vaughan referred to,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34but what about Ed Miliband?
0:09:34 > 0:09:36He's not an asset on the doorstep, is he?
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Of course he is.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Ed was in Merthyr Tydfil recently and he had a great reception.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I think people recognise that he is a genuine man
0:09:45 > 0:09:47and when they talk to him, they find him to be
0:09:47 > 0:09:52an extremely intelligent man who knows all the facts thoroughly.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55It is possible that the Labour Party will do better in Wales
0:09:55 > 0:09:59than in the rest of Britain, and yet, this omni-shambles suggests
0:09:59 > 0:10:03that Ed Miliband should be doing better.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Labour will do well in Wales
0:10:05 > 0:10:08because Labour is the natural party of Wales.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11But I think Labour will do well in England as well
0:10:11 > 0:10:15because people will realise, not just with the omni-shambles,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18but how much they're suffering from not having a Labour government.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Elgan, let me raise a point with you.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23In the last elections,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27there were only four councils where one party won over half the seats.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30Two for Labour and two for the Conservatives.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Deals will be needed again this time around.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37How are you going to deal with Oliver's party,
0:10:37 > 0:10:40taking into account that you are in a coalition in Westminster
0:10:40 > 0:10:45and is it possible for you to deal with Huw's party after the elections
0:10:45 > 0:10:48when cabinets need to be formed in the councils?
0:10:48 > 0:10:52One thing that happened four years ago
0:10:52 > 0:10:56was that different groups from parties came together,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00depending on what part of the country they were in.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I think that will have to happen again.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Local councillors will have to make these decisions for themselves.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08From my point of view, I would never say,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12we have to work with this party or we won't work with that party.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Like here and like in Westminster, it depends on the numbers.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19But when you are sitting there in City Hall, are you thinking,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22well, we're not going to win a majority
0:11:22 > 0:11:25and working with Plaid Cymru may not give us a majority.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29So who would appeal most to you? Mr Owen there, or Mr Thomas here?
0:11:29 > 0:11:32We'd have to talk to all three parties
0:11:32 > 0:11:36and any independents that have been elected
0:11:36 > 0:11:39to see who would be willing to work with us
0:11:39 > 0:11:42and who we'd be willing to work with.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48Sera, as a representative of a party which is not in power here or in Westminster,
0:11:48 > 0:11:53if people do decide to use the local elections as a protest vote,
0:11:53 > 0:11:57you should attract a lot of votes
0:11:57 > 0:12:00as the only party in Wales which is not in power.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Do you see that happening?
0:12:03 > 0:12:06We're very positive about tomorrow and the results.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09We feel we did very well in 2008
0:12:09 > 0:12:13and there is scope for us to build on that success.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15As you've said,
0:12:15 > 0:12:19I think the fact that we're not in power is going to be positive.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21- Does it help on the doorstep? - I think it does.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Because you can kick everybody.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25People are turning to us to see
0:12:25 > 0:12:28if we have something more positive to offer, and we have.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32We discussed this question with Elgan.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Do you share your leader's opinion
0:12:34 > 0:12:38about not doing any deals with the Conservatives?
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Yes, I share Leanne's opinion there.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45But of course, you have to remember what Leanne said.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49She said that in order to build our communities
0:12:49 > 0:12:52and in order to build stronger communities
0:12:52 > 0:12:56and concentrate on the important things in local areas, like the economy,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00we should look to work in informal coalitions
0:13:00 > 0:13:04with parties that have prominent policies.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06We have not seen much of that so far.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Huw, this is your problem, isn't it?
0:13:09 > 0:13:14In a lot of councils, there are a lot of places where you have to win control, win over half,
0:13:14 > 0:13:17because coalitions are difficult for you.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Your party refuses to work with the Conservatives
0:13:20 > 0:13:24and there's not much love lost between you and the Liberal Democrats.
0:13:24 > 0:13:25That's true.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28It's important to remember that the Tories
0:13:28 > 0:13:30are the second largest party in Wales.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33So what we have in Newport, what we have in Swansea
0:13:33 > 0:13:36and maybe, unfortunately, what we could have in Cardiff
0:13:36 > 0:13:40is a coalition between the Tories and the Liberal Democrats,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42like we have in England.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45I know that a lot of people don't want that.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Oliver, would you be willing to work with anyone?
0:13:49 > 0:13:51We're keeping every door open at the moment.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55What I would say is that we don't take any votes for granted.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58We'd never say we are the country's natural party, like Labour do.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01We work hard for everybody.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Thank you very much.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05For those voters who are faithful to a party,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08deciding who to support in an election can be easy.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11But for others, it is an interesting choice.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14This week, a group of people got together in Caerphilly
0:14:14 > 0:14:17to take part on Radio Cymru's 'Hawl i Holi' programme.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20We went over to ask some members of the audience
0:14:20 > 0:14:23which issues were important to them.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29Education, mainly. Social services as well.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33Transport and economic development.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35In county council elections, I think the area is important
0:14:35 > 0:14:40and then there are local matters that are important to me.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44Things like facilities in the area, facilities for the youth.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Education at the county level is very important.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53But on the other hand, I think the national picture counts as well.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55I will be interested to see the results
0:14:55 > 0:14:58to see how the different parties have done.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Without a doubt, unemployment, especially among young people.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06That's the most important issue in my mind.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10I hope people will send a clear message to Westminster.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14We're not pleased with what's happening at the moment.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18Local factors should persuade people who to vote for.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22In Pembrokeshire, they're almost all independent.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27They vote for the person down there and not the party.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Maybe the local candidate there is very important.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33There are counties with many independent candidates
0:15:33 > 0:15:37and in that case, people go for them personally.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41So maybe, at a county level, you think about the individual.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44You don't always agree with his party but you admire him,
0:15:44 > 0:15:49and support some of the things he does and says at a county level.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51The opinion from Caerphilly.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Elgan Morgan, what does come up on the doorstep?
0:15:53 > 0:15:57What's the main issue that comes up time and time again?
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Local issues.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04People are very clear that they want somebody to represent them
0:16:04 > 0:16:08on the county council.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Last year, in the Assembly elections,
0:16:11 > 0:16:15Westminster came up very often.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19- This year, I've not heard half as much about it.- What? Education?
0:16:19 > 0:16:21Education. Everything from education and jobs
0:16:21 > 0:16:24to the pothole at the bottom of the road.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- And you promise the world to them all.- Pardon?
0:16:27 > 0:16:30- You promise to fix everything for everyone.- We try!
0:16:31 > 0:16:33We'll sort the local things.
0:16:33 > 0:16:38At a city level, we've raised the money that will go to our schools
0:16:38 > 0:16:41and we try and work to bring more jobs to the city.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Are you kicked because you are the party in power in Cardiff?
0:16:45 > 0:16:48- No.- That makes it difficult to promise things, doesn't it?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Not really.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54People can see that their communities and the city
0:16:54 > 0:16:57has changed a lot in the last eight years.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Huw, what do you hear on the doorstep?
0:17:00 > 0:17:03The same issues, or is there something different?
0:17:03 > 0:17:05A combination of local issues,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08very often micro-local, and national issues as well.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12Very often, we hear that people are tired of their local council here in Cardiff,
0:17:12 > 0:17:17that it doesn't listen to them and does what it likes.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20That comes over time and time again.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24A dozen people came up to me this afternoon and said,
0:17:24 > 0:17:29the sooner you get rid of those people in Westminster the better.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31So I think there's a combination of both to be honest.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36What's the main local issue? Education? Planning? What?
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Here in Cardiff, there is a lack of housing
0:17:40 > 0:17:44which has been made worse by the lack of LDP we have here.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46Housing comes up very often.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49The fact that the bus station has been knocked down
0:17:49 > 0:17:54with no plans in place for a new one comes up often.
0:17:54 > 0:17:59And local issues like potholes and dog mess as well.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02- Dog mess.- Dog mess always comes up.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06- Oliver, does Cameron come up? Osborne? The Budget?- Not very often.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08What comes up most often with us
0:18:08 > 0:18:10is the state of the roads and pavements.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13They're awful in our area so that comes up time and time again.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17But are people saying, it's your Government in Westminster,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19because of your cuts,
0:18:19 > 0:18:22that's affecting how much money the council has to spend?
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Not at all. They tell us that their current councillors
0:18:25 > 0:18:27aren't responding to their problems.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29That's what they're worried about.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31It's all about this blame game.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35If somebody is unhappy, for example with the local primary school,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37who do they blame for that?
0:18:37 > 0:18:40The council? The Government here? The Government in Westminster?
0:18:40 > 0:18:43I think they look locally.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Of course, they go to their local councillor first
0:18:45 > 0:18:47and if not much is done about it,
0:18:47 > 0:18:52they can blame the fact that the council hasn't taken action.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56With regard to the issues I'm hearing about on the doorstep,
0:18:56 > 0:19:00it's about protecting local facilities.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03For example, a swimming pool has been closed in the Rhondda.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07A lot of people are also very unhappy
0:19:07 > 0:19:12that their working terms and conditions have been cut and changed
0:19:12 > 0:19:15under the current local government that we have,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18without any consultation and discussion
0:19:18 > 0:19:20with the workers themselves.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23The one that stands out to me is,
0:19:23 > 0:19:27I would have expected after the PISA figures and so on,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30that you'd all say that people are worried
0:19:30 > 0:19:33about the education of their children.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35But it doesn't seem that that stands out.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36There are schools in Cardiff
0:19:36 > 0:19:40where a very low percentage of children succeed. That's true.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42But that's not true in my area
0:19:42 > 0:19:44so I can't say that it does come up on the doorstep.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Maybe it does in some areas, I'm not sure.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51But are people differentiating between the curriculum
0:19:51 > 0:19:53that comes from here and the standards,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and the buildings and the restructuring
0:19:55 > 0:19:58that comes from councillors?
0:19:58 > 0:20:00In Cardiff, the Liberal Democrats
0:20:00 > 0:20:05have increased the amount of money that goes to every school.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08We're the second best placed in Wales,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11considering the average of every child.
0:20:11 > 0:20:17People know that we as a council put a lot of work into education.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19But people are worried about education in Wales
0:20:19 > 0:20:22in general, aren't they?
0:20:22 > 0:20:23Of course.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28People think the curriculum is something for the whole of Wales,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31but the condition of buildings
0:20:31 > 0:20:35and how the school works from day to day is more local.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39But certainly, education is important for the people of Wales.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40It is always an important issue.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45With regard to the Welshness of the British parties, if you like,
0:20:45 > 0:20:49Nick Bourne was very careful to make the party more Welsh
0:20:49 > 0:20:51and to create that clear blue water.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Andrew R.T. Davies, to a lesser extent maybe.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57On the doorstep, are you emphasising the Britishness of your party
0:20:57 > 0:21:00or the Welshness of your party?
0:21:00 > 0:21:05People meet us and we let them make their own decision.
0:21:05 > 0:21:11I speak to many people on the doorstep in Welsh
0:21:11 > 0:21:14and they see that we are people from Wales.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18Many of us are Welsh speakers. So it doesn't come up.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Huw, I know you haven't talked about education
0:21:21 > 0:21:24and if you want to talk about that, feel free to do so.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28But you used the term, the 'natural party of Wales'
0:21:28 > 0:21:30when you talked about the Labour Party earlier on.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34At the start of the campaign, I interviewed Peter Hain
0:21:34 > 0:21:38and he said it was important Labour didn't go back to the old days
0:21:38 > 0:21:40where they took people for granted
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and the council could just tell people what to do.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Labour should remember the lessons of the last 10 years.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49Is there a danger that you are forgetting that?
0:21:49 > 0:21:53No, I disagree. That's what happened in 2008, possibly, to some extent.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Maybe we took those votes for granted
0:21:55 > 0:21:57and we paid the price for it.
0:21:57 > 0:22:03I think there's a new generation growing now within Labour Party
0:22:03 > 0:22:05that realises that you've got to work
0:22:05 > 0:22:07and talk to people on the doorstep.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12But just saying, "We're the natural party of Wales", sounds a little arrogant, doesn't it?
0:22:12 > 0:22:15What I mean by that is that only Labour can represent people
0:22:15 > 0:22:17across the whole of Wales.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21We're the only party that seriously competes across Wales.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25I don't think any other party can say that, apart from Labour.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29On education, the Labour Assembly Government
0:22:29 > 0:22:33is going to invest more in buildings
0:22:33 > 0:22:36than any other system since devolution.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39So we're investing in education.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41We're spending on buildings
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and standards within the curriculum itself.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Sara, a word on one of your main issues as a party - independence.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Does something like that come up,
0:22:50 > 0:22:54especially following the appointment of Leanne?
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Is independence something that comes up?
0:22:57 > 0:23:00- No, that hasn't come up on the doorstep.- Do you raise it?
0:23:00 > 0:23:01Sometimes.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I raise it sometimes to find out the general opinion about it
0:23:04 > 0:23:07but to be honest, this is a local election
0:23:07 > 0:23:13so local issues like the bus stop down the road or dog mess,
0:23:13 > 0:23:17things like that are very emotive issues the people.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19That's what they focus on in these elections
0:23:19 > 0:23:21and that's the right thing for them to do.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23We only have around a minute left.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25two of you are re-standing
0:23:25 > 0:23:28and two of you are standing for the first time.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33How important is it for you to get your faces seen?
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Is the personality of a candidate important these days?
0:23:37 > 0:23:39I think it is to some extent.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42People know the name and see the name on the ballot card
0:23:42 > 0:23:44and vote that way.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48But I think people tend to know what a party stands for
0:23:48 > 0:23:51and I still think that people vote for their party.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55- Is the personality important? - I think it is all-important.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59If you have a good record of making sure that you can get things done within the ward,
0:23:59 > 0:24:02within the local area, I think that goes in your favour.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05- Elgan, the same question? - I agree with Sera.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08What people are looking for are councillors from any party
0:24:08 > 0:24:10that will work for their communities.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12- The last word to Oliver. - It is all-important.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15People are fed up of leaflets, they've had a lot of them,
0:24:15 > 0:24:17and they want to know who will represent them.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Good luck to you all. That's it for tonight.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Vaughan will be keeping Dewi Llwyd company tomorrow night
0:24:23 > 0:24:26on Radio Cymru at 11:30pm
0:24:26 > 0:24:29on the results programme of the local elections.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32We'll be back at 9:30pm next Wednesday night.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34- Good night.- Good night.