Personal Platform
If it hasn’t become obvious to many of you yet, it may surprise you to learn that my ultimate goal is to become a Senedd Member in an Independent Wales. I’m sure some of you will laugh at the idea, or perhaps you have similar aspirations - Nonetheless, in order to be the representative I want to be, I need to lay out what my personal platform is. What do I stand for, and what would I be fighting for? I’m nothing if not honest and open, so I will be leaving my personal platform here out in the public, it may change as I learn new things, and it will almost definitely be added to, but it will always remain here, free for scrutiny by the public.
Political Accountability - Ban Senedd & Council members from lying when working in any official capacity, with the penalty being suspension from the chamber for a set time, followed by full expulsion for further infractions. Also, all Senedd members should have to immediately (Within 7 days) publicly disclose any donations, where they came from, and what they are for.
Make Politics Easier - Politics should be made easier to understand at all levels, with bills going out with better explainers for the general public, the dates and times of debates and important votes being publicised in more places, and access to materials on parties and elections being more readily available to the public.
Free & Fair Elections - Ban lying in election materials (Leaflets, Social Media Ads etc), and remove the Draconian voter ID laws, they were simply an attempt at depriving the most vulnerable of a vote. Also, election days should always be national holidays to ensure people can vote without interfering with their work.
Voting Reform - Remove FPTP in any remaining elections in Wales (Councils, PCC etc), to be replaced with a voting system more representative, giving power back to the people and removing it from the parties. Personal preference would be ‘Votes-Weighted Representation’ (VWR) - See HERE
Universal Basic Income (UBI) - Introduce a universal basic income for all citizens of Wales, providing a real liveable wage for everyone regardless of career, age or location. All studies show that the most common criticism "People just won't want to work" is absolutely false, in almost all cases unemployment rates decrease and happiness and efficiency in employment increases massively.
Welfare Reform - Rebuild the welfare system to be more compassionate focused rather than punishment focused. UBI would mean that the number of people utilising the welfare system would be at an all-time-low anyway, so cost is easier to eat. With a focus on rehabilitation without prejudice, the system could be a catalyst for bringing more people into an efficient and prosperous society.
Tax Reform - Introduce a Flat Tax Rate of 25-30% all the way up to annual earning of £999.999 Then 50% for any earnings after that stage. Remove loopholes surrounding inheritance and illiquid gains, stocks etc, so that they would all be taxed equally. Notably, UBI would not be affected by this tax, allowing for it to be much higher but have little real-terms impact on the financial stability of the average citizen.
Independence for Wales - The UK government will never give the Welsh people the levers required to lift ourselves out of the poverty we currently languish in, only through the medium of independence will we be able to make significant, meaningful and indeed constitutional change to our democracy and begin to forge our own path in the world.
Electoral Accessibility - Give people the power to recall their elected officials at any time, stipulation being that more than a 3rd of registered electorate in that constituency need to sign a petition before a by-election is triggered. If an elected official defects to another party, it automatically triggers a by-election, with the incumbent seeking a fresh mandate to represent from the people.
Green Investment - With the powers afforded to an Independent Wales, we can borrow capital and invest it into a new publicly owned renewable energy company, creating thousands of jobs across Wales, providing renewable energy to all residents at reasonable prices and bringing in much-needed revenue when selling off the energy that we don't use as a nation.
True Public Services - Again with the powers gained upon independence, we can nationalise the entire rail network, as well as the mail and water companies working within Wales, providing quality service for consumers in Wales and much needed revenue that would be generated by the operation of these companies. Current energy and water companies in Wales are bleeding consumers dry by consistently raising costs and handing over this money to wealthy elites.
Tackling Pollution - We can impose a heavy fine on any companies knowingly polluting, with the fines being a flat % of earned revenue. The income inevitably generated by these fines can be repurposed to start considerable clean-up efforts across our beaches and waterways, clearing them of pollutants and improving the lives of those that live around these areas.
Politics in Education - Our system of politics should be taught as a compulsory subject in Secondary/Comprehensive schools. Teaching teens the voting system we use, the systems of governance that currently exist, and most importantly how they can fulfil their role as an informed electorate. There will be no party politics here.
Modernise Elections - We can update our election systems to allow secure online voting alongside traditional post and in-person votes, which would go a long way to combating voter turnout and perhaps also political apathy.
This is by no means finished, and neither are the examples provided in a number of the explanations, but for now it provides a framework for my beliefs and aspirations as a politician, and how I see my future in the nation that I love.