Putting some iron into the campaign
Last night saw the campaign hire car roll into the valleys, where we met members from Rhondda Cynon Taf Local Party, as well as a couple of visitors from Cardiff.
We had spent the day catching up on campaign stuff, with much to do over the coming weeks, and huge amounts of preparation to be done. However, all work and no play etc, so Mark decided that we should do something 'cultural' for a change. Our route took us to Blaenavon, a World Heritage Site where the best preserved example of an eighteenth century ironworks is being carefully restored by CADW, the Welsh heritage preservation group. It is presented very sympathetically, with the spoken word used to evoke the memories of the site.
It should not be forgotten that these places were the scene of many deaths, of child labourers as young as five years old, and of great hardship, yet jobs were sought after because of the ongoing reduction of the agricultural workforce in the rural areas. The tales of injury and death are quite horrifying, and were the motivation behind much liberal reform in the Victorian era.
Next, we went to the 'Big Pit', an exhibit based on a real coal mine, free to the public, which displays the history of coal mining in South Wales, and how a coal mine actually worked. One thing that I spotted was a reference to a lockout at Clydach Vale... It's a great exhibit, and real miners act as guides, telling stories and providing information on request. Whilst you might not be in the area, it's worth a detour.
And so on to Clydach Vale, where we met councillors and activists from an area not obviously renowned for its Liberal tradition. We took the opportunity to discuss issues such as potential cross-border co-operation, bearing in mind the genuine fears of Welsh activists of a takeover by the Federal (read, English) Party. However, if Welsh resources can be better utilised with the support but not interference of neighbouring English regions, there might...
