Ron Davies, former Secretary of State for Wales, urges Labour voters to support Plaid's Phil Edwards in Aberconwy

Ron Davies, former Secretary of State for Wales, is urging Labour voters to support Plaid's Phil Edwards in Aberconwy to keep the Tories out on 6th May.

Mr Davies who was Secretary of State for Wales from 1997-1998 and Labour MP for Caerphilly from 1983-200, was hailed as one of the architects of devolution.

Now he has written to likely Labour voters in Aberconwy urging them to lend their vote to Phil Edwards, the Plaid Cymru candidate.

Phil Edwards said:

“I am delighted that such a distinguished and significant figure in Welsh poltics, and the Welsh Labour Party in particular, has offered me his support in this way.

“Ron Davies shares my belief that Aberconwy is a close two-horse race between Plaid and the Tories and if we are to prevent the Tories winning here it's vital that voters think carefully how best to use their vote.

“With Labour support slumping, their candidate cannot win and there is nothing to suggest that Clegg-mania has had any impact at all in Aberconwy. The only party with a realistic chance of defeating the Tories in Aberconwy is Plaid and I would be grateful if Labour voters would lend me their vote on this occasion.

“The alternative is the election of a right-wing, divisive Tory MP and an inexperienced Tory Government intent on inflicting a new age of austerity upon Wales, the like of which we haven't seen since the dark days of Thatcherism.”

Ron Davies' letter is reproduced below in full:


Ron Davies
Secretary of State for Wales 1997-1998
Labour MP for Caerphilly 1983-2001

Keep the Tories out on May 6!

Dear Elector

As we approach polling day after one of the closest election contests in modern times, it is more important than ever that we use our vote to the best effect for our families and communities.

There is a great deal at stake in this election. In particular, we should all be deeply concerned at the prospect of a Conservative government with their programme of massive cuts in public spending.

As a Labour MP during the 1980s I remember how difficult things were for many ordinary families. I look at the modern Conservative party and fear that they could be even worse than the government of the 1980s.

You may be aware that the new Aberconwy constituency is one that the Conservative party MUST win if it is to form a government.

This means that we can stop them in their tracks if we use our votes wisely.

All the evidence points to a close fight between the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru’s Phil Edwards. If we look at the only election held in Aberconwy so far, which was the Assembly election in 2007, the figures speak for themselves:

Plaid Cymru 7983
Conservative 6200
Labour 4508
Liberal Democrat 1918
Since then, Council and European election results have also confirmed the trend of tight contests between Plaid and the Conservatives.

Having been a Labour man myself for most of my adult life, I understand how difficult it can be to consider voting for anyone else. However, given that Labour have no chance of winning in Aberconwy, I urge you to lend your vote to Phil Edwards, the Plaid Cymru candidate.

This is the only realistic way to ensure that the Conservative candidate is defeated and help prevent the election of a Conservative Government that would turn our current crisis into something far worse.

Yours sincerely
Ron Davies


Ron Davies
Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru 1997-1998
AS Llafur Caerffili 1983-2001

Cadwch y Torïaid allan ar Fai 6!

Annwyl Etholwr

Wrth inni nesáu at ddiwrnod yr etholiad, wedi un o’r gornestau agosaf ers blynyddoedd, mae’n bwysicach nag erioed ein bod ni’n gwneud y defnydd gorau o’n pleidlais er budd ein teuluoedd a’n cymunedau.

Mae llawer iawn yn y fantol yn yr etholiad yma. Yn benodol, mi ddylai pawb ohonon ni fod yn bryderus iawn am y perygl o lywodraeth Geidwadol gyda’u rhaglen o doriadau anferth mewn gwario cyhoeddus.

Fel Aelod Seneddol Llafur yn ystod yr 1980au, dw i’n cofio pa mor anodd oedd hi ar lawer o deuluoedd cyffredin. Dw i’n edrych ar y blaid Geidwadol fodern a dw i’n ofni y gallen nhw fod hyd yn oed yn waeth na llywodraethau’r 1980au.

Efallai eich bod chi’n sylweddoli fod etholaeth newydd Aberconwy’n un y mae’n RHAID i’r blaid Geidwadol ei hennill os ydi hi am ffurfio llywodraeth.

Mae hyn yn golygu y medrwn ni roi stop arnyn nhw yma os gwnawn ni ddefnyddio’n pleidleisiau’n ddoeth.

Mae’r holl dystiolaeth yn awgrymu brwydr agos rhwng y Ceidwadwyr a Phil Edwards dros Blaid Cymru. Os edrychwn ar yr unig etholiad i gael ei gynnal yn Aberconwy hyd yma, sef etholiad y Cynulliad yn 2007, mae’r ffigurau’n siarad drostyn nhw’u hunain:

Plaid Cymru 7983
Ceidwadwyr 6200
Llafur 4508
Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol 1918

Ers hynny, mae canlyniadau etholiadau cyngor ac etholiad Ewrop hefyd wedi cadarnhau’r tueddiad o frwydrau agos rhwng Plaid Cymru a’r Torïaid.

A minnau wedi bod yn ddyn Llafur am y rhan fwyaf o’m hoes, dw i’n deall pa mor anodd y gall hi fod i ystyried pleidleisio i unrhyw un arall. Fodd bynnag, drwy nad oes gan Lafur unrhyw obaith o ennill yn Aberconwy, dw i’n pwyso arnoch i fenthyg eich pleidlais i Phil Edwards, ymgeisydd Plaid Cymru.

Dyma’r unig ffordd realistig o sicrhau bod ymgeisydd y Ceidwadwyr yn cael ei guro ac o helpu rhwystro ethol Llywodraeth Geidwadol a fyddai’n troi’n hargyfwng presennol yn rhywbeth llawer gwaeth.

Yn gywir
Ron Davies