26 Years, Empty Promises: Why Eluned Morgan’s Speech Made Me Furious

I listened to Eluned Morgan's speech at the Labour conference—the talk of the "Red Welsh Way," and all those promises. It might fire up the crowd in the hall, but here in Blaenau Gwent and Ebbw Vale South, where I've lived and seen the daily struggles, it just doesn't land. After 26 years of Labour running things in Wales, our towns feel more like forgotten experiments than success stories. Morgan paints a picture of equality and community, but my experience tells a different tale—of good intentions gone wrong and priorities all mixed up.

Handouts Aren't Fixing the Basics

She boasted about free prescriptions, school meals, and bus passes. Sure, they're helpful, but they're paid for by our taxes, and they don't touch the real problems. What's the point of free meds if you can't get a doctor's appointment? In my area, waiting lists are endless, and folks are suffering. Free meals for kids are great, but schools are stretched thin, and education isn't preparing our young ones like it should. Bus passes? Useless if the buses don't run where you need them. We need working hospitals, safe streets, and decent jobs—not just giveaways that mask the cracks.

Empty Words, Not Real Action

All those slogans—"clear red water," "standing up to Westminster"—I've heard them for years. But in Blaenau Gwent, high streets are emptying out, jobs are scarce, and bureaucracy seems to eat up every penny before it helps anyone. Morgan talks big about socialism in action, but after all this time, why are we still pointing fingers at others instead of fixing what's broken here?

Tired of Being the Test Case

Morgan says Reform UK would turn Wales into a testing ground, but to me, it feels like we're already been Labour's guinea pigs. That 20mph limit everywhere? It slowed life down without much thought for our roads. The basic income trial sounded innovative, but why experiment when basic repairs go undone? And those long, unnecessary lockdowns hit our small businesses hard. When these ideas flop, we in the valleys pay the price, not the politicians in Cardiff.

What I'd Fight For

My rule is simple: Is it right for Ebbw Vale South? Is it right for Blaenau Gwent? That means:

• Cutting waste so money goes to the front lines.

• Making streets safer with real policing.

• Cleaning up our towns and cracking down on litter.

• Protecting our taxes from vanishing into pet projects.

• Boosting local jobs by helping small businesses thrive.

Enough Is Enough

Morgan's call to stand together skips over Labour's own messes. After 26 years, I'm not taking achievements for granted—I'm asking for results. Words won't fill potholes or shorten queues. Blaenau Gwent deserves a government that's accountable, practical, and puts us first. No more experiments; it's time for a Wales that works for everyday people.