Lee Waters

This column appeared in the Llanelli Herald on May 20th Two weeks after the elections and Wales, at last, has a First Minister and a Cabinet. With 29 of the 60 seats in the Senedd Welsh Labour are by far the largest party, but we don’t have a majority of seats. Nor did we have the majority of votes cast. We all need to acknowledge that Wales has entered a new phase of multi-party politics. There are now five parties represented in the Assembly, and the style of politics that operated 50 years ago when two major parties dominated will no longer work in an environment where loyalties are fractured. I’m sorry that Plaid Cymru seem to be adopting such an aggressive posture in the Senedd. Firstly they tried to use their 12 AMs to launch an audacious power-grab in the Assembly - linking up with right-wing parties they swore in the campaign they’d steer clear of.  And this week, despite taking part in talks which allowed us to form a Government, refused to settle on a...

Speech delivered at the declaration of the Llanelli constituency on May 6th 2016 I was born and raised in this constituency, and I cannot tell you how proud I am to have been chosen by the people of my community to represent them in our National Assembly. I promise to do my very best, and to be true to myself. I’ve had some incredibly frustrating conversations over the last six months on the doorsteps of this constituency. Too many people have given up. Too many people want to talk about what we’ve lost in the last 30 years, and not enough want to set their minds to what we can do about it in the next 30 years. That’s what I want to try and change. I don’t have a magic wand. But I do have an intolerance for mediocrity. We can do better. But only if we demand more of ourselves. And only if we work together. I know there is genius in this constituency, and there is passion. Let’s harness it. Lets come together and focus on what we can agree on, not on what we disagree on. ...

This column appeared in the Llanelli Herald on April 22nd In the final week of the campaign minds will focus on what’s at stake in this election. I’ve been very clear throughout that I’m not standing because I think everything is ok, I’m standing because I’m convinced we can do better and I want to do my bit to help. I’m not a party hack. I’ve been ITV’s Chief Political Correspondent for Wales and now run the leading independent policy institute, the IWA. I have a mind of my own and I will not hesitate to speak up, or speak out, to fight for the whole of the Llanelli constituency. Our National Assembly reaches adulthood next year - it will have been in existence for 18 years. And it is time for a new generation of people to energise the Assembly. My priority will be to develop a long-term economic plan for the Llanelli constituency. In the thousands of conversations I’ve been having over recent months I’ve been struck by the despondency that has set in - too many people are resigned t...

More terrific images from Natasha Hirst of the campaign in Llanelli All images Copyright Natasha Hirst

This column was published in the Llanelli Star on 22nd April 2016 Whatever happens over the next couple of weeks and months to our steel industry there is no doubt that the Llanelli constituency needs a long-term economic plan. In my day job running Wales’ most respected think-tank I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the future of our economy. After a 100 years of decline there’s a lot to be done. But there is much we can do, and we can lead the way here in Llanelli. Firstly, we need to focus on our existing strengths. Llanelli born Professor Karel Williams - now a leading light at the highly-respected Manchester Business School - has done a lot of work on what he calls the ‘foundational economy’. He thinks we should be making the most out things that may seem everyday, but have potential to really help the local economy if developed in the right way. He suggests three areas: food production, energy production and the care sector. Around 40% of the workforce in bot...

This column was published in the Llanelli Star on 13th April 2016 If Port Talbot steelworks is forced to close the ripple effects will be huge. The Prime Minister must surely step in and save the British steel industry, which is essential not only for jobs but our defence industry and wider economy too. After all the annual cost of bailing out Tata steel would be £122 billion less than the 2008 banking bailout. Whatever happens over the next couple of weeks and months there is no doubt that the Llanelli constituency needs a long-term economic plan. In my day job running Wales’ most respected think-tank I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the future of our economy. After a 100 years of decline there’s a lot to be done. But there is much we can do, and we can lead the way here in Llanelli. Terry Mathews, the man behind the Celtic Manor in Newport, has set out an excellent framework for the wider Swansea Bay region based on attracting the next wave of growth industries...

Joe Gallacher, the Works Manager at Trostre steelworks, is deeply committed to his industry. After spending ten years as the manager of the steelworks at Port Talbot, he has been overseeing Trostre for several years. He is surrounded by senior managers with long and rich experience of the trade. I mention this because when First Minister Carwyn Jones sat down with Joe Gallacher, his team, and senior trade union representatives, at the plant on Monday, it was clear that this team are passionate about their plant and its workforce.   While local MP Nia Griffith met with Business Secretary Sajid Javid in Westminster, Carwyn Jones and I updated the Trostre management and unions on his talks with the Prime Minister, David Cameron. Carwyn also took us through his talks with Liberty Steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta. It was clear from the meeting that Carwyn Jones and Joe Gallacher will do all they can to save the works. The sale of the TATA steel plants throw up a range of chal...