Some of the recent letters on our pages have raised the matter of the forthcoming General Election and the "invisibility" of candidates. In fact, a total of five candidates now seem to have been declared. Examination of social media sites indicates that a couple of them have already been out campaigning in the community in parts of the Neath constituency. No doubt a head of steam will soon be built up and we shall see lots more of them!
According to internet sources these are the candidates so far, with a very brief synopsis of what is known of them, again from media sources.
NEATH PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY
CANDIDATES DECLARED FOR MAY 2015 GENERAL ELECTION
Catrin Brock, Green Party
From social media sites it appears that Catrin is a student in the Manchester area. She stood for the Green Party in 2014 as a candidate for Fallowfield in the Manchester City Council Elections. She came second to the successful Labour candidate, but beat the Conservative and Lib Dem candidates. Internet sources suggest she is local to the Neath area and that she had her 20th birthday in November 2014.
Daniel Thomas, Plaid Cymru, The Party of Wales
Daniel went to Birchgrove Comprehensive and then followed an electrical engineering apprenticeship at Tata, Port Talbot, which he completed in 2008. He was a Caseworker with the National Assembly for Wales – . He was co-opted onto Blaenhonddan Community Council as the Aberdulais Ward representative in 2013. He is believed to be in his mid-20s. His Twitter site suggests he has a keen interest in sport and follows Swansea City's fortunes closely. Also a fan of the American TV series Homeland (we like it too). His partner's Twitter page states she is a member of the Labour Party so conversations are presumably interesting in their house.
Christina Rees, Labour Party
Christina is a qualified barrister and is a Justice of the Peace.
She was an MP's constituency secretary 1984-1996.
Works for Squash Wales as a development officer and a national coach.
She was the Labour Party candidate in Arfon at the 2011 Welsh Assembly Elections and a candidate in the European Parliament elections in 2014. She was elected as a Labour Councillor for the Newcastle Ward of Bridgend CBC at the Local Government Elections, May 2012. She is a councillor on Porthcawl Town Council. About 60 years old.
Clare Bentley, Liberal Democrat
Clare is a 22-year-old Swansea University graduate and has just completed her MA in Development and Human Rights. Prior to that she achieved a First in History at Swansea. She is listed as on the Assembly Member Support Staff for the LibDems as from February 2014 and also currently works for Swansea Probation Service as a clerical officer.
Richard Pritchard, UKIP
Richard started off as a Royal Marine, and worked for the MOD and in a variety of other roles. No other information known.
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