So May 3rd is getting closer and I find myself more and more frustrated with the number of people in the valleys who vote a certain way because they always have and their parents did.

I saw a great poster this week which said “Dont vote Labour for the sake of your father, vote Plaid for the sake of your children”.

Too often we settle for the status quo rather than asking the question am I happy with the way things are. I am not the kind of person who has a go at other parties just for the sake of it but my concern is that at this time the Labour party is losing touch with individuals and seems to think that it has some kind of God given right to our vote. Sorry but you don’t! What difference will an alternative vote make? Well judging by the manifesto from Plaid Cymru - jobs and investment! This is something that the valleys is desperate for. Now I am aware and so are most of you who read this that I have a vested interest as I am a Plaid member, but I haven’t actually had access to any other proposals. One generic leaflet through my door is not a manifesto. It seems that the Labour plan is something like ‘we are not Con/Dems’. That’s fine but what are you then?

I do feel sorry for the LibDem candidate in our area, he is a genuine person and has some good ideas, unfortunately I have said this before people will vote with an eye on national politics and the Clegg effect will not help them.

On the flip side of this I am not so naive as to think that there is a positive effect of the election of Leanne Wood as the new Plaid leader. A progressive socialist who clearly has a plan to deliver the party into government and put jobs and the environment high on the political agenda.

So are you satisfied with the way things are? Or are you ready to dare to be different and see what the alternative way can offer. If you see yourself as a left wing socialist then really living in Wales your natural choice should be Plaid Cymru. No longer the party of just language and independence (though these are important) this is a truly left of centre party with people and their views at its core.

3rd of May - break with tradition vote for change, vote Plaid!