:01:32. > :01:35.Later in the programme, we'll hear from Plaid Cymru about their local
:01:35. > :01:45.government election campaign and we'll also have all the latest
:01:45. > :01:45.
:01:45. > :30:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1736 seconds
:30:41. > :30:44.political news in Wales this week, How low I am Carl Roberts and on
:30:44. > :30:49.the Sunday Politics Wales, with the council elections just weeks away,
:30:49. > :30:54.we continue our light grilling of the four main parties. Today it is
:30:54. > :30:57.Plaid Cymru, who lead Gwynedd and Caerphilly, but also help run
:30:57. > :31:02.Cardiff and Conwy. I will hear from their local government spokesman
:31:02. > :31:07.Rhodri Glyn Thomas later. Here are my studio guest. The Conservative
:31:07. > :31:14.Nick Ramsay and the Liberal Democrat Eluned Parrott. Welcome to
:31:14. > :31:18.you both. We will start with a a row at UK government level, plans
:31:18. > :31:23.by the government to cut tax relief on charitable donations. The
:31:23. > :31:28.treasurer of your party says it will discourage people from giving
:31:28. > :31:34.to charity, were as the Liberal Democrats think it is a good way of
:31:34. > :31:38.stopping wealthy people taking advantage of tax loopholes. I do
:31:38. > :31:41.not think it. People giving to charity. I think there was well
:31:41. > :31:47.meaning behind these proposals, but we know there have been problems
:31:47. > :31:53.with certain people writing of their tax bills, using the
:31:53. > :32:00.charities to do that. It needs to be looked at. The danger is that
:32:00. > :32:10.when you're party is making cuts to public budgets, they are
:32:10. > :32:14.encouraging... The big society, more voluntary influence, by giving
:32:14. > :32:18.less money to charity, they will not be able to pick up the slack.
:32:18. > :32:23.There is no intention of the government to try to stop people
:32:23. > :32:27.giving to charity. If the government had not taken action, it
:32:27. > :32:30.is a no-win situation. Then people would have said that the Coalition
:32:30. > :32:35.were allowing people to get away with writing of their tax bills.
:32:35. > :32:39.Something had to be done. It may not be perfect, and the government
:32:39. > :32:45.they have to look at this, but we are on the right track. A Paddy
:32:45. > :32:48.Ashdown is not happy about this. It is one of those circumstances where
:32:48. > :32:52.it is the unforeseen consequences we have to worry about. If there is
:32:52. > :32:58.a problem with people picking and choosing how they are going to
:32:58. > :33:01.spend their money, rather than paying into the public part and
:33:01. > :33:05.pain for everyone's schools and hospitals, this needs to be
:33:05. > :33:11.addressed. If there is a risk that charities will suffer, we need to
:33:11. > :33:15.look at that very carefully. will leave it there for now.
:33:15. > :33:18.Wander into your local high street at the moment and there is a fair
:33:18. > :33:22.chance you will run into some of our politicians, which may or may
:33:22. > :33:26.not be good for business. It is a sign that the campaign for the
:33:26. > :33:29.local elections is in full swing. We have already considered the
:33:29. > :33:33.Liberal Democrats' prospects on May 3rd and we will look at how the
:33:33. > :33:42.Conservatives and Labour might do in the coming weeks. Today, our
:33:42. > :33:46.reporter turned his attention to Plaid Cymru. This woman is
:33:47. > :33:52.campaigning in her first election as leader of Plaid Cymru. Female,
:33:52. > :33:56.socialist, republican, she has lived almost all her life in the
:33:56. > :34:02.South Wales valleys. She is hoping to reach it places the party has
:34:02. > :34:06.struggled to win over in previous elections. Riverside of me here or
:34:06. > :34:10.two local authorities with plight Cumbrian power. To my right, there
:34:10. > :34:15.is Cardiff, where it is the junior Partick with Liberal Democrats. To
:34:15. > :34:21.my left, Caerphilly, Clyde, is leading their in conjunction with
:34:21. > :34:25.independence. Apart from the occasional falling out, they have
:34:25. > :34:30.remained by and large fiercely loyal to the Labour Party for
:34:30. > :34:33.nearly one century. Plaid Cymru knows winning ground in the that
:34:33. > :34:41.Leeds is key to challenging Labour's dominance. It has been
:34:41. > :34:47.playing down its chances, both here and across Wales. I think it is a
:34:47. > :34:51.tough one for the party. It is why you get those in and around the
:34:51. > :34:55.leader saying we are in it for the longer term. She has had a matter
:34:55. > :35:01.of weeks to make an impact and you cannot see this as a referendum on
:35:01. > :35:04.her. Labour are licking their lips and saying come and get us if you
:35:04. > :35:11.think you're hard enough. You're saying that you will win the
:35:12. > :35:18.valleys, and we have won it before, let us see what you have got.
:35:18. > :35:24.come we did well in the 2008 elections in rural areas. They had
:35:24. > :35:28.darker moments in some traditional areas. Polls suggest that the
:35:28. > :35:35.outlook for Labour is much brighter than four years ago. It could be
:35:35. > :35:40.well placed to rain on Plaid Cymru Parade on May 3rd. He the hold on
:35:40. > :35:46.to some of the territory they made an get an outright majority in
:35:46. > :35:50.Gwynedd and if they can pull off a surprise, perhaps taking control of
:35:50. > :35:54.Carmarthen, which is at the top of their hit list in terms of where
:35:54. > :35:58.they can exert political power, that would be credible enough for
:35:58. > :36:03.them. There Labour resurgence in the local elections could make
:36:03. > :36:07.things difficult for Plaid Cymru and Leanne Wood has only the leader
:36:07. > :36:11.of the party for one month. members would clearly like some
:36:12. > :36:16.indication that progress is being made in the South Wales valleys,
:36:16. > :36:20.not though, at the expense of the party's traditional Welsh-speaking
:36:20. > :36:24.heartland. Of course, that is precisely the conundrum that
:36:24. > :36:30.collecting Leanne Wood was intended to resolved.
:36:31. > :36:34.Before we came on air, I spoke to Plaid Cymru as local government
:36:34. > :36:38.spokesman Rhodri Glyn Thomas. The chairperson has said that the
:36:38. > :36:42.selection would not be a referendum on the new leader so why I asked
:36:42. > :36:47.Rhodri Glyn Thomas if this was playing down expectations. No, she
:36:47. > :36:51.is facing reality. She was elected as leader of the party six weeks
:36:51. > :36:56.ago and you cannot call an election later and call a referendum on her
:36:56. > :36:59.leadership. She is impacting positively on the campaign, I was
:36:59. > :37:04.at the launch of the campaign and clearly people are responding to
:37:04. > :37:08.her. She is different and people are fed up with the manufactured
:37:08. > :37:12.politicians we see these days and there is a freshness about her
:37:12. > :37:18.which appeals to people. She listens to people, but she has
:37:18. > :37:23.strong principles. From glancing through the manifesto, do you see
:37:23. > :37:27.that Leanne Wood is having an impact on party policy? We see more
:37:27. > :37:33.focus on local procurement and more environmentally impetus on the
:37:33. > :37:37.party. He is she affecting what the party hopes to do? We did these
:37:37. > :37:43.things when we were in government. We are hoping to replicate that in
:37:43. > :37:49.local government. We are trying to empower people at a local level to
:37:49. > :37:55.work to create an economy which thrives, even though we are facing
:37:55. > :37:59.teacups from Westminster and affect a Labour government in Cardiff Bay.
:38:00. > :38:04.The manifesto also says that your ambition for Wales is limited, but
:38:04. > :38:08.senior sources in your party have been telling asked by your ambition
:38:08. > :38:14.in this election is to hold on to what you have. That is not much
:38:14. > :38:18.ambition? I am bemused by these references to senior figures. We
:38:19. > :38:26.have fielded more candidates this time than ever. Q You expect to
:38:26. > :38:31.win? I do. We have 551 candidates, more than there had ever been. Far
:38:31. > :38:36.more than last time. We are looking to win control of councils, to
:38:36. > :38:42.share control of councils and work on behalf of the people of Wales.
:38:42. > :38:46.let us concentrate on what you are offering to do. You want to create
:38:46. > :38:53.sustainable communities as a step towards independence. The
:38:54. > :38:58.Independent word creeps in again. We we do not mention independence,
:38:58. > :39:03.people accuse us of trying to hide away from the concept of
:39:03. > :39:08.independence. When we mention it, it creeps in. It is part of the
:39:08. > :39:13.party's ideology and what we are talking about is creating vibrant
:39:13. > :39:20.local economies, local procurement, employment and local levels through
:39:20. > :39:24.apprenticeships, making the economy work at a local level, were at the
:39:24. > :39:27.environment is very bad. What is being done by governments in West
:39:27. > :39:31.minister and Cardiff Bay is not helping the people of Wales.
:39:31. > :39:36.Councils have less money and will be getting less money over the next
:39:36. > :39:42.few years, do things like local procurement, do they not cost more?
:39:42. > :39:46.Do you know that by doing that you will not be say the money? Local
:39:46. > :39:51.procurement does not necessarily cost more. Do you know that
:39:51. > :39:56.already? It can be more beneficial to the local economy. We have been
:39:56. > :40:00.doing this in places like Gwynedd and Caerphilly. We did it in the
:40:00. > :40:05.one Wales government when we were in power in Cardiff Bay, it can be
:40:05. > :40:11.done. It strengthens the local economy. It means that it benefits
:40:11. > :40:16.the economy. I know that the party is playing down the Lehane would
:40:16. > :40:22.affect, but after any party takes on a new leader, there is a bounce.
:40:22. > :40:27.Will there be a bounced for Plaid Cymru this time around? Are there
:40:27. > :40:31.is already abounds. It has happened in the party. They responded
:40:31. > :40:36.positively to the agenda that she set out and we see it now
:40:36. > :40:39.throughout the country. I was at the launch of the local government
:40:39. > :40:45.campaign in Carmarthen and she was there and people were responding
:40:45. > :40:49.very positively to the fresh approach she offers to politics.
:40:50. > :40:56.That will be beneficial to the party certainly at this election.
:40:56. > :40:59.Do you think that Plaid Cymru will be leading more councils on the
:41:00. > :41:03.days after May 3rd and at the moment? I certainly hope they will
:41:03. > :41:08.be and it will benefit the people of Wales if they are. Thank you for
:41:08. > :41:14.joining us. Let us see what our guests make of
:41:14. > :41:20.it this. Your party work with Plaid Cymru on Cardiff council, are you
:41:20. > :41:24.pleased with what they are saying? Yes. I think they will have a
:41:24. > :41:27.bounds at the election with their new leader. It is inevitable. Be
:41:27. > :41:33.seen to be very positive going into the election campaign in Cardiff,
:41:33. > :41:38.with a lot of hopes. They have hopes of taking some Labour
:41:38. > :41:42.strongholds. It is something that is worth watching. What did you
:41:42. > :41:45.make of their offerings? I think there will be abounds, you would
:41:45. > :41:50.expect that with a new leader. I would agree with Rhodri Glyn Thomas
:41:50. > :41:56.when he says that she is a new kind of leader. I am not sure it is
:41:56. > :41:59.resonating with the people it needs to. The who are those people?
:41:59. > :42:05.think her policy is to concentrate on the valleys and get Labour votes.
:42:05. > :42:11.If you look at north, west Wales and rural areas, I do not think may
:42:11. > :42:18.have much to offer them. You've lost your campaign last week in a
:42:18. > :42:22.rugby field. A what are the headlines for the prospective?
:42:22. > :42:27.There was great enthusiasm. There was a packed a rugby club in
:42:27. > :42:36.Newport. We are reaching out to all parts of Wales. We are fielding
:42:36. > :42:38.more candidates. There earth no no go areas? We have got more than we
:42:38. > :42:42.had in 2008 and it is gradual progress for the Welsh
:42:42. > :42:47.Conservatives and the reaction I am getting is that people look to us
:42:47. > :42:52.as the party that are talking about the issues they care about.
:42:52. > :42:57.would expect you to say nothing less. Your party are fielding quite
:42:57. > :43:02.a few if she were candidates than you did four years ago. Does no one
:43:02. > :43:06.wants to represent the Lib Dems any more? It is about focusing on the
:43:06. > :43:12.areas where we want to fight to win. We're concentrating on those core
:43:12. > :43:17.areas of support and are fielding a good quality of candidates. Quality,
:43:17. > :43:21.not quantity? People expect a lot from their councillors and council
:43:21. > :43:27.leaders and the want to show that it is not just about fielding
:43:27. > :43:33.anyone, it is about fielding the right people. A couple of people
:43:33. > :43:38.have been turned down. Your party is in charge in Swansea Council and
:43:38. > :43:42.in Cardiff council, two of the largest councils, do you expect
:43:42. > :43:47.that you can be in a position in a few weeks' time after the election?
:43:47. > :43:55.By hope so. We're getting positive reaction on the doors. People are
:43:55. > :44:00.talking about local issues that mattered to them. In Cardiff, a
:44:00. > :44:03.people see the jobs and prosperity that a Liberal Democrat leaders of
:44:03. > :44:09.-- leadership has brought to them and they do not want to go back to
:44:09. > :44:13.the bad old days of the 11% rises in council tax under Labour. They
:44:13. > :44:17.do not want to have poor public services. They see what that with
:44:17. > :44:23.leadership, there is a better opportunity there and I hope that
:44:23. > :44:29.will be reflected on May 3rd. ever party you are, people like to
:44:29. > :44:34.see you on the doorstep and that personal interaction. They want to
:44:34. > :44:42.see face-to-face and hear what you have to say. What issues to be
:44:42. > :44:48.raised? UK issues, Assembly related issues, was a cancer related
:44:48. > :44:55.issues? Bit is a whole range. We work with then politics, so we are
:44:55. > :45:00.aware of all the different levels. On the voting on what your party
:45:00. > :45:07.has been doing in your local area or what the main government is
:45:07. > :45:11.doing? The message has got across that my council has cut waste and
:45:11. > :45:15.management fees in order to freeze council tax this year and we have
:45:15. > :45:19.been saying that if we have more Conservatives in power, that is the
:45:19. > :45:23.reality. It is easy to talk in soundbites, but people do not want
:45:23. > :45:27.that. They know times are difficult and they know the UK government has
:45:27. > :45:31.to sort out the mess they were left. If you make efficiency savings
:45:31. > :45:36.locally, there is opportunity to make local areas and communities
:45:36. > :45:40.far better. Is there a fear in your party that there will be at
:45:40. > :45:46.backlash from the year involvement in the UK government? It could cost
:45:46. > :45:50.you, could and it? I think before the election campaign got started,
:45:50. > :45:54.there was some fear that that might be the case, but when we're on the
:45:54. > :45:58.doorsteps talking to people, it is the local issues they care about.
:45:58. > :46:08.The understand the difference between the UK level and the local
:46:08. > :46:12.level. It is things like investment in estates... It is very localised
:46:12. > :46:20.issues that matter and they want to see local councillors fighting for
:46:20. > :46:24.those local things. Thank you. This week, we look back at what has
:46:24. > :46:34.been happening in politics and we will always you through it in 60
:46:34. > :46:36.
:46:37. > :46:42.seconds. This MPs said that several overseas companies were interested
:46:42. > :46:45.in building a new nuclear power station, after report said that
:46:45. > :46:51.Russia's state nuclear company wanted to get involved. The project
:46:51. > :46:53.was abandoned by a two energy giants.
:46:53. > :46:58.The First Minister led the delegation of business people and
:46:59. > :47:02.academics to India. The three-day trade mission was aimed at raising
:47:02. > :47:06.Wales's Pro Fide and building educational links.
:47:06. > :47:09.Around 50 workers and their supporters from a threatened
:47:10. > :47:17.factory lobby did the Deputy Prime Minister as he visited the town. It
:47:17. > :47:23.is one of seven well sites facing closure by the British government.
:47:23. > :47:26.A Freedom of Information request feel a -- revealed that the 22 Ms
:47:26. > :47:29.the stood down at the last elections got more than �840,000 in
:47:29. > :47:39.resettlement grants. Assembly officials said the rules had been
:47:39. > :47:45.changed for the future. Before we go, let us see what our
:47:45. > :47:51.guest think about that. Nick Ramsay, people do not like seeing
:47:51. > :47:58.taxpayers' money given out randomly. Have you heard anything on the
:47:58. > :48:03.doorstep yet of that use of �140,000 to give a Ms a send-off
:48:03. > :48:07.when they leave the Assembly. focus on the issues you want, but
:48:07. > :48:12.something like this blows up a... It is not a new story. There was
:48:12. > :48:19.this concern about the golden handshakes when politicians or
:48:19. > :48:23.Assembly members leave office. It is being looked at. The horse has
:48:23. > :48:28.bolted and the remuneration panel had made clear that in future we
:48:28. > :48:33.will be down to far less when MPs retire and it is being sorted out.
:48:33. > :48:36.We should not have got to this position. It is not the kind of
:48:36. > :48:41.thing that pains politicians in a good light, because people think
:48:41. > :48:47.you have your hand in the tail and only think of yourself. In it is a
:48:47. > :48:50.perception. It is a frustration for someone like me who is new to
:48:50. > :48:55.politics and you do not going to rip thinking that it is a gravy
:48:55. > :49:00.train, you go into it hoping that you can make a difference. Stories
:49:00. > :49:05.like this, more thought needs to be given, not only to the fact that
:49:05. > :49:11.fairness for the politicians when they are leaving, but also fairness
:49:11. > :49:15.to the public purse. What is a reasonable amount to pay people? We
:49:15. > :49:18.want to make sure that ordinary people can go into politics, so we
:49:18. > :49:23.have to pay people and pay a reasonable salary if you want to
:49:23. > :49:33.get good people. When the tax payers see things like this, they
:49:33. > :49:35.
:49:35. > :49:39.do not think it is a good use of their money. You obviously feel
:49:39. > :49:43.wounded by that's a! The rules have been changed now. People who decide
:49:43. > :49:48.to step down will not be getting any payment. Will that lead people
:49:48. > :49:54.to stay on until they lose their seats? There is a danger of that.
:49:54. > :49:57.It is a question of balance. The old system had to change. The six
:49:57. > :50:05.months' salary was too much, but you have to make sure that if
:50:05. > :50:10.people are giving up the jobs, it say in their 30s, then you have to
:50:10. > :50:13.give them something to attract them. Likewise, people will go into
:50:13. > :50:19.politics, they always have and they always will, because they care
:50:19. > :50:24.about it. Were it puts people of? There is a danger that it will.