Law's former agent targets Westminster

Former Ebbw Vale steelworks convenor Dai Davies, who was Peter Law's agent, will be standing for the vacant Westminster seat in the other by-election.

On Monday Trish Law and Mr Davies are expected to be endorsed as candidates by Blaenau Gwent People's Voice, an association set up by Peter Law supporters earlier this year.

Asked why the people of Blaenau Gwent would not be better served by a Labour MP who would be a member of the governing party, Mr Davies - himself a former secretary of Blaenau Gwent Labour Party - said, 'The most important thing for me is to represent people up to government, and not have government dictate down to the people.

'In parliamentary terms, obviously there was a recent occasion when Tony Blair missing for one vote meant the Labour Party lost that vote.

'So one voice in Parliament can be almost as powerful as it is in the Assembly.'

Asked why Blaenau Gwent People's Voice had not been registered as a political party, Mr Davies said, 'The reason is that we see party structure as being a dictatorship.

'We want to welcome people into debate, to talk, to listen, and then make informed decisions, and that the people who make those decisions are the people of the streets, the Blaenau Gwent people - not to be told what to do by a party structure.'

In contrast to Labour candidate Owen Smith, Mr Davies said he was an opponent of the private finance initiative, conceived by the last Conservative government and carried on by Labour.

He said, 'If we can't fund what we need through the public purse, we have trouble. There are billions of pounds swirling around in war chests.

'Let's spend the money instead where it's needed - on health, education, employment.'

Western Mail