I have always lived in Monmouthshire. I was at one time a Community Councillor and have for many years been an active trades unionist.

Having worked for BT for many years, I am now a full-time carer for my elderly mother.

This has given me an insight into the serious lack of support for carers in our society.

90,000 carers in Wales are caring for more than 50 hours each week - often they put their own lives on hold and provide round the clock care 7 days a week.

As a result they often experience ill health, poverty and discrimination. 70% of community care in Wales is provided by carers and this contribution goes largely unrecognised.

If elected I would fight to end this injustice and campaign for real improvements for carers and the people they look after.

I believe that affordable, adequate, safe housing is a fundamental human right.

Yet Wales is in the throes of a housing crisis. Homelessness here has doubled since 1997 and one of the basic insecurities for the people of Wales is the cost of acquiring and paying for a home.

House prices have risen to the point where first-time buyers can no longer afford to get on to the property ladder.

Instead they are forced into private rented accommodation paying exorbitant rents. The SLP is committed to a Fair Rent system, so that it becomes unlawful for any authority to charge above the level set by the Government Rent Officer.

Central government continues to push local authorities into transferring their council housing stock and responsibility for housing is being transferred to housing associations with almost no new council housing being built in Wales since 1997.

This situation is unacceptable.

The SLP would instigate a full programme of social housing, homes built and renovated, employing building workers hired directly - using capital receipts at present still held by local authorities from the sale of council housing.

No wonder in today's society that many young people cannot even imagine a secure or happy future, and become easy prey to the drug and crime cultures which stem from unemployment, the racist propaganda of the far right, and the greed of international racketeers.

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.