Helen Mary Jones

Candidate for Llanelli constituency and Mid and West Wales region (no. 2)

Tell us about yourself

I was born in England and brought up in Colchester and Montgomeryshire. I joined Plaid Cymru in 1979 after the devolution referendum was unsuccessful when I was 19 and at Aberystwyth University. My family were interested in politics and one of my earliest memories is a family debate about the Vietnam war when I was about 6. We were always taught that if we thought something was wrong we should try to put it right. I still carry those lessons with me.

What is the most important thing you think the Senedd should do in the next five years?

I remember being so angry during the 1980’s that a Tory Government we didn’t vote for – the people of Wales have never elected a majority of Conservative politicians - was free to destroy our mining communities. Plaid is the natural home for someone with my beliefs – in equality and social justice and in the right of nations to govern themselves.

I was first elected to represent Llanelli in 1999 and I believe in this time of a pandemic we need someone with experience to provide stability in this time of uncertainty. The focus on Welsh democracy has probably never been higher because of Coronavirus, perhaps even more so than in 1999 when I beat the odds to win the Llanelli seat.

If elected next May in Llanelli - as a Minister for the Economy I would want to focus on building back well, not just better, we must ensure young people’s life chances aren’t too detrimentally affected by the downturn and ensure when we rebuild our economy we ensure we take in account the climate emergency that faces us as well as Coronavirus.

What will you do for Llanelli / Mid and West Wales if elected?

There are so many able and talented people in our communities, here in Llanelli and across Wales. Too often those talents are wasted, just struggling to get by. We need a new Welsh Government with Adam Price as First Minister to set free all that potential, ensuring good jobs available are for all, a government that’s ambitious and confident, that really believes in our nation and the communities we can be. We need to create wealth so we can share it, and invest in world class health, care and education services. After 20 years of Labour Government in Wales a third of our children are growing up in poor families. It doesn’t have to be like this. Plaid Cymru, working with people and communities across Wales, can change this. And we will.