A Different Kind of Politics for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd 

My journey to this point has not been a straight line. Like many young people, I went to university because it felt like the expected path, graduating with a degree in Performance. My career began at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, where as an outreach officer, I managed projects to help non-traditional applicants find a path to education. Seeking a different challenge, I became a farm worker, where my responsibilities included everything from general farm maintenance to dealing with a herd of cattle. Most recently, I returned to college to retrain, completing an electrical apprenticeship. This varied path, from a university office to a muddy field and onto the tools, has given me a genuine, hands-on understanding of the different lives and communities that make up this diverse constituency. 

My commitment to serving our communities is proven by a consistent record of action. I have always believed that the collective voice is stronger than a single one, which is why I put my hand up to become a trade union rep. In that role, my job is to be the voice that bridges the gap between the workforce and management. I stand up for our members, fighting for the fair treatment and decent conditions they deserve and negotiating to improve our pay. Every day, I see how low wages and insecure work hold families back, giving me a direct insight into the economic struggles that are a reality for so many. This dedication to community extends to my role as Chair of the Ynysybwl Community Council, where I have supported families through difficult times, including the devastation of local floods. Even my professional roles have been about service, whether it was running aspiration-raising activities for under-represented groups as an outreach officer or the community engagement work I undertake as part of my electrician role with Trivallis. My focus has always been on empowering people and fighting for a stronger, fairer community. 

I never thought I would enter politics, but I can no longer stand by. I am standing because I am angry at the injustices I see across our communities. I am angry that families in our rural heartlands and our industrial towns face the same poor access to GPs and dentists. I am angry that our neighbours are forced to wait more than five years for surgery and that our local maternity services have been described as "unacceptable and distressing". I am furious that Wales has the highest poverty rate of all UK nations , with areas like Neath Port Talbot and Swansea showing particularly high rates of people dying in poverty. This is not right. My passion comes from a deep-seated belief that everyone deserves a fair chance, and it is this conviction that drives me to fight for the lasting, systemic change our communities so desperately need.

My vision is for a stronger, fairer, and greener future for our entire constituency, bridging the divide between our rural and urban communities. The challenges we face are interconnected, from the housing crisis to strains on our public services, and my plan is built on practical, experience-led priorities. My number one priority is to tackle wealth inequality by fighting for the Real Living Wage and ensuring the wealth of our Valleys stays in our Valleys. I will fight to rebuild our NHS by championing investment to cut waiting lists and retain our brilliant doctors and nurses. I will be a tireless advocate for expanding high-quality apprenticeships and ensuring workers are retrained for the green jobs of the future. Finally, I will prioritise our environment, pushing for tougher regulations on sewage dumping in our waterways and investment in robust flood defences.