Sarah Murphy, Welsh Labour Candidate for Bridgend

It is an honour to be speaking at our launch today as the Welsh Labour Candidate for Bridgend.

This last year has been a rollercoaster for our families, workers and business owners but it just goes to show how in our darkest times, our community has stuck together and been there for one another.

At the start of the pandemic, I set up the Bridgend Coronavirus Support Group to help people locally. I am so proud of how we raised money for Splice Baby Bank in Pyle and Bridgend Foodbank, coordinated donations of facemasks from Bridgend Ford Engine Plant and collected nightwear for Princess of Wales Hospital and Ysbyty’r Seren Field Hospital patients. Real practical action helping people in Bridgend.

The social media trolls like to poke fun at me because I am young and a woman, but I believe that my experience and community work speak for themselves. I see the role of an elected representative as someone who is there to empower others to stand up for what they want and to have their voices heard, and when people can’t do that for themselves, and the systems feel too overwhelming, I will be there to fight for them.

That’s also why I’m a member of Welsh Labour. We care about our communities and we care about Wales.

You only have to look at the Tories in England compared to Welsh Labour’s record in Wales with free school meals, free prescriptions, trainee nurse bursary, money for social carers, mental health funding, period dignity, free bus passes  – these are all things that my friends in England envy.

These things didn’t just happen by chance. They happened because we elected a Welsh Labour Government.

Now as we look to the future, we offer a plan for Wales’ future.

A vision to help our country renew after coronavirus. That values those who have cared for us. Gives young people ambition and hope, in a greener Wales with cleaner air. Where people feel safe in our communities and secure in their jobs.

Welsh Labour is moving Wales forward.

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If the past 12 months have taught us anything, it’s that compassionate leadership matters. It matters in normal times but even more when dealing with a public health emergency, and its aftermath.

We have been fortunate in Wales to have compassionate, careful and considered leadership at the time we needed it most.

Many people have come to know Mark through his straight talking Covid briefings. I’ve known Mark for a few years. His career has been dedicated to helping others and finding solutions to the difficult issues that hold people back.

In Wales, we have a First Minister who has a plan to see us through the pandemic and to use what we have learned to build a fairer, more equal Wales.

It’s my pleasure to introduce Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford.