It's Polling Day

Mark Williams MP: "Vote Elizabeth Evans on May 5th"

Liam is voting 'Elizabeth Evans' on May 5th

Liam is voting for me in the election on May 5th in Ceredigion Watch his video to find out why

Ceredigion should vote Elizabeth Evans says Tim Farron, Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Fantastic support from the Liberal Democrat Party Leader, Tim Farron who visited Ceredigion yesterday. It's time for a change in Ceredigion and this election is going to be close - but we can win! If you want to join the campaign and be part of something special please get in touch with me. 

We were also pleased to visit the TrawsLinkCymru rail campaign http://trawslinkcymru.org.uk/home/ again to hear about the great progress they are making. I was also interviewed by 'junior reporter' Catryn Richards aged 9 from Penrhyncoch; look out for the article on my blog soon!

 

 

 

Catryn asking some tough questions about recycling, science in schools and cycling

 

 

Canvassing and Campaigning across Ceredigion

I've said that campaigning for election is an extreme sport and I think its well worth mentioning again! For the fitness enthusiasts out there I can confirm that my step count is well over the 10,000 recommended daily target!  Calorie consumption (especially cake!!) is high to maintain energy levels(!); so a return to Slimming world will be required - no doubt (eek).  

In all seriousness, the team and I have battled through the rain over the last 2 weeks to visit homes across Ceredigion.  I have been discussing the most important issues that impact on residents and I have promised to campaign hard to win the election and to represent Ceredigion in the National Assembly in Cardiff Bay.     The response 'on the street' is excellent; Team Liz has a great amount  of  support out there.  There is still a lot of work to do and every vote will count. This is going to be a very close election; so remind your friends and family to vote on May 5th.  Voter registration closes on 18th April so if you haven't yet done so please register quickly!  

There are many pressing issues that concern residents across the county which won't come as a suprise.   The three main areas are of course: Health, Education and the Economy.    School closures feature prominently in concerns as well (see the recent video I made in Taliesin which is on you tube).  You should have seen the glossy magazine that has been sent to every resident across Ceredigion - this details the campaign promises that I am committed to.  The Health Promises are  below (more nurses, less discrimination of mental health and improved GP access).  

So over the next few weeks you can expect to see me out and about across Ceredigion, at various 'hustings' events (please come along; your support makes a difference), there will be leafleting of course.   I always welcome extra pairs of hands; so if you would like to help out please get in touch.   

Spotted in Penrhyncoch!

Campaign Launch

Supporter Photo from Betty

Tales from the campaign trail - what matters to the residents of Ceredigion

Dan is supporting my campaign #liz4ceredigion - Diolch Dan

Aberystwyth Crown Post Office is set to close. Why is this an issue for residents of Ceredigion?

The simple fact is that the Crown Post Office in Aberystwyth is not just the Crown Post Office for Aberystwyth, but also for the whole of Ceredigion. It is Ceredigion’s Crown Post Office; which means it provides more services and benefits to both its customers and staff, and there are only just over 320 of these vital and important Crown POs left in the UK.

 

Residents’ of Ceredigion would soon notice when this vital service is franchised out, as the staff and services would be very different. Post Office Ltd have plans to close 39 Crown Offices and offer them as franchises to local businesses with another 3 earmarked for closure.

 

The effects of this on local communities will be:

• A reduction in the services available to local communities;
• The loss of 7 highly trained jobs with access to regular Post Office training;
• A vulnerable local service reliant on the success or otherwise of the franchisee for whom the Post Office will be their secondary purpose.
• If the Aberystwyth CPO closes it would leave local residents with a 70 mile trip in any direction to access the nearest Crown Office.

The Post Office appears to target Wales disproportionately in their franchising programmes. Over 50% of the Welsh Crowns have been on the Post Office target list since 2013. The Government required the Crown Network to financially breakeven by 2015 – this was achieved.

 

However the Post Office has decided it now wants to return a profit of £10 million and yet they have no directive for this from the Government. The Post Office is NOT a business, it is a public service. Since when has making a PROFIT OVER SERVICE been the criteria for public services?

 

I have attended the public meeting to share concerns and build a campaign on this issue on 4th March in the Morlan Centre, as well as the follow-up meetings organised by the Ceredigion People’s Assembly. This campaign needs to be a success, in order to make sure rural Wales is not again forgotten. That's all we seem to do in Ceredigion is campaign to save our vital local services, whether it be the retention of services at Bronglais hospital, the closure of our tax office in Aber, Nat West Bank closures throughout the county, including my local branch in Aberaeron and now, the Crown Post Office in Aberystwyth.

 

Things you can do to support the campaign:

• Sign the Petition at change.uk
• Come to the protest against the closure at 10.45 Trefechan car park, Saturday 19th March.




 

 

 

 

Supporter Video - William Powell AM

Canvassing in Aberporth

It was a bitterly cold day in Aberporth on Saturday. The sun was shining and we had lots of help and support from local people who helped to deliver our leaflets and canvas support. Mark Williams MP was with us as well to lend his support.   Lots of discussions about the hot political topics of the week (mainly European referendum and Ceredigion budget setting)  I made some yummy snacks for the team as well - they say an army marches on its stomach!   ..... slimming world is a distant memory, but the step count is definitely increasing. Until next time, hwyl...

Canvassing with the team #Aberporth

Fab to see the #liz4ceredigion hashtag getting everywhere

Delicious snacks for the team

Campaign Launch Weekend

We've had a productive few days; the campaign was officially launched at an event in Llanfarian.   A great event (don't forget you can still support the campaign financially via the crowd funding page here: L4C). I had been out with the team in Penparcau all morning on Saturday and we got drenched (as you can see from the photos!) but we treated ourselves to lunch at the farmers market in Aberystwyth (I don't know if my slimming world group will ever take me back!; but the lunch was yummy)..... Running for election really is an 'extreme sport' and really does keep you on your toes; from canvassing and meeting people on the doorstep to going on TV, last week had it all.  I was invited onto the Welsh debate programme Pawb a'i Farn for the first time on Thursday.  I really enjoyed it and it did get a little bit heated on occasions!!! (do watch it on 'clic' on S4C if you get a chance to catch up).    Iolo Corgi was home with Graeme and was completely spoilt as I was not home to oversee the doggy treat rations!

Pawb a'i Farn

 

Rain! Glaw!



Hannah Thompson (campaigner and activist) supporter video

Hannah has been a campaigner against revenge porn. Read more about Hannah and her work here.

Supporter Video - Charlie

Aberystwyth University / Prifysgol Aberystwyth

I've spent the afternoon with Aberystwyth University students at their 'refreshers fair'.   It was a really vibrant and busy event on campus. It was great to spend time with the students discussing the issues that they think are important for the Assembly elections in May.   I also collected some more signatures for our mental health petition and I made a little video too Elizabeth Evans You Tube Channel.  Home now to walk Iolo Corgi who will be looking forward to a long walk tonight.   

Canvassing in Llandysul

A busy day on Saturday canvassing in Llandysul.    Lots of conversations with the voters about the matters that mean the most to them and how I can help if elected to the assembly in May.  My three main campaign issues are Health, Education and the Local Economy and they certainly resonated with the voters in Llandysul. Mark Williams MP and the canvassing team were all there to help give out our newsletters and speak to the voters.   Plenty to work on in the forthcoming weeks and months. 

Im really pleased that this blog has had over 500 hits (and counting), which means that people are taking an interest in the campaign and starting to think about the election.   Please join me and support my campaign; there are plenty of ways to help (see previous posts below).  

On a personal note; I haven't had time to go to my Aberaeron slimming world group, which is really naughty of me. They won't be pleased to see me eating a delicious ice cream as a treat! Bizarrely it was really cold and started to snow; but the ice cream still tasted great!  Canvassing is a great way of upping my step count and keeping fit so maybe its not all bad :)

   

Nadolig Aberaeron Christmas

Getting into the spirit of things at Aberaeron Community Christmas!

Saving the tax payers money!

Backbench Councillors in Ceredigion won the day at council meeting - doesn't happen often but when it does it fills me with warmth. Decision can still be overturned by Cabinet of course but that would be very unwise. Backbench Cllrs saved the public purse well over £100,000 :)

WI 100th Anniversary

Pa ffordd well i orffen penwythnos hyfryd /  What better way to finish a lovely weekend....  #WI #100thanniversary

Speaking to voters in Aberystwyth. Bore Da Aberystwyth

Kicked off the campaign in Aberystwyth with the whole gang: Mark Williams, Kirsty Williams, William Powell and Norman Lamb. Not forgetting the enthusiastic efforts of Liberal Youth! (I'm the one in the middle, by the way). A really early start for me as Iolo corgi insisted on his early morning walk before I left the house!     Lots of hot topics being discussed with the voters and reminding them that the Welsh Assembly elections will be happening in April 2016..... the countdown begins.

A welcome visit to Hospice at Home Aberystwyth Volunteers shop in Pier Street Aberystwyth.  Some  fantastic work happening here; raising money for a great cause. 

Fundraising - what's it all about?

So, why do I have to fundraise?

Fundraising is part of modern day political campaigning...... Ive set up a page to collect on-line donations for this reason.....http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/liz4ceredigion is a large rural constituency and is a difficult and expensive place to run an election campaign. There are many voters that we can only reach by postal delivery, and only speak to by phone, which costs money. We don't receive any public money for campaigning, and the Liberal Democrats are not bankrolled by big business, trade unions or wealthy benefactors. Everything I have to spend on my campaign will come from donations from supporters like you.

What do we use our funds for?:   To print leaflets, newsletters and posters for distribution across the county, to post direct mail-shots to key target areas to carry on getting our message across Ceredigion, to produce more 'stake-boards' to increase campaign visibility, to travel across Ceredigion to speak to people about the key messages and to have a telephone campaign to speak to voters.     So, whether you are a Ceredigion resident wanting to have an effective local campaigner with a strong Liberal voice representing you in the Welsh Assembly, or a Liberal Democrat supporter outside the area wanting to help the Lib Dem Fight-back, please give generously. http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/liz4ceredigion

Its not all about money!  Even if you can't donate money you can still contribute to the campaign.  

• Contact me via email, phone, twitter or facebook to offer your time. You can help by writing envelopes (in the comfort of your own home), doing some leaflet delivery in your neighbourhood, displaying posters in your window or having a stake-board on your lawn.
• (most importantly!!) Go to vote, turn up on polling day and put a big cross next to my name! Its going to be a real competition in Ceredigion so every vote really does count. 

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Legal Stuff – Electoral law states that donations can only be received from individuals on the UK electoral register (anywhere in Britain), companies registered in the UK or genuine unincorporated associations operating in the UK. All donations of more than £50 will be checked and must by law be declared in my election expenses return. If we are not able to confirm your details we must refuse the donation. Any queries should be addressed to my agent, Michael Woods, at Ceredigion Liberal Democrats, 32 North Parade, Aberystwyth, SY23 2NF. 01970 627721