I’M really proud to have represented Torfaen in the Assembly for the past 12 years.

In that time, I believe I’ve been a strong voice for local people.

As Argus readers will know, I’ve strong Labour values and I’m proud of the many good things my party has done, like bringing in free bus travel for pensioners, but I’m also not afraid to speak out when it matters and do what I think is right for Torfaen.

I’ve always put the people I represent first and always do my best to help people with their problems.

Working with local people, I have helped make a real difference to the communities I represent.

I’m standing again this time, so that I can continue to be that strong voice for Torfaen.

After leading a long campaign in the Assembly, I was delighted by the announced green light for the new £220 million hospital in Torfaen. This is happening despite the Tory-led government slashing the money we can spend on schools and hospitals in Wales.

I also played a key role in ensuring that Pontypool town centre gets the cash boost it so badly needs, and last summer I was in involved in the successful campaign to save the local fire service from dangerous cuts that could have put the lives of local people at risk.

In these tough times, I believe it’s more important than ever that local people have a strong Labour voice in the Assembly to stand up for them against the attacks from David Cameron and Nick Clegg in Westminster.

Labour in the Assembly is showing that there is a better way. I strongly support our plans to create 16,000 apprenticeships and training opportunities for young people, to defend free bus passes, free prescriptions and school breakfasts for children, and to ensure access to GPs at evenings and at weekends.

I’m also backing plans to make our streets safer by creating 500 more Police Community Support Officers, and am supporting action to get more money into our classrooms, and to protect Welsh students from the hike in tuition fees.

All year round I hold community coffee mornings and surgeries throughout Torfaen, and recently I’ve been out knocking thousands of doors and speaking to voters up and down the constituency, but if you want to contact me directly, phone 07968 959347.