I worked at Llanwern steel works for 27 years until its closure. The steel strike of 1980 was responsible for my enduring interest in the Trade Union movement and wider political issues.

I believe New Labour's policies actually create unemployment, deliberately butchering industries and services, destroying not only individual lives and families but devastating entire communities, leading directly to the social misery and unrest around us today.

Massive privatisation programmes have led to obscene salary increases, bonus payments for fat cats, while anti-union laws have been brought in to stop workers from protecting their jobs, industries, pay and conditions.

The Welsh Assembly Government has declared that Wales in nearing full employment, but Wales is still a low wage economy and vast numbers of people are in low-paid part time work.

The average wage in Wales is less than four-fifths of the UK average wage. Low pay is a major cause of poverty. Many people have to take more than one job in order to earn enough money to keep their families.

Since New Labour took office in 1997, industrial production in Wales has fallen by 10% with a loss of 28,000 manufacturing jobs.

Our manufacturing industries have been butchered. Britain once had over 80% of its economy based on manufacturing, with vibrant coal, steel, ship building, motor car and heavy and light engineering industries supporting a strong economic structure.

Today, less than 20% of our economy is based in manufacturing. We have a top-heavy service and financial structure, supported on a fragile 20% manufacturing base and an economic system which is not sustainable.

Another major factor which makes Wales one of the poorest regions of Western Europe is our higher degree of dependence in old age on a miserly state pension.

The Socialist Labour Party campaigns for a substantial, index-linked, non-means tested state pension for all.

I deplore the plundering of occupational pension schemes by consecutive UK governments. Thousands of workers have lost their occupational pensions through disgraceful maladministration.

Occupational pension fund monies are deferred pay and no employer or government should be able to take money from such a fund. The effects of this asset stripping is harshly felt in Wales, by former miners, steel workers and many other employees.

The Socialist Labour Party stands for the principles of the Labour Party of Aneurin Bevan.

Don't waste your second vote use it to make a change.