Plaid Cymru candidate blasts system that serves ‘landlords and holiday home owners’

A Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate has hit out at a system that serves the “interests of landlords and holiday home owners”.

Conwy councillor Aaron Wynne, who is standing in the ultra-marginal constituency of Aberconwy, against two term Tory incumbent, Janet Finch-Saunders, has pledged to tackle the housing crisis if he is elected.

Cllr Wynne, who recently secured the backing of Welsh rugby legend, Eddie Butler, said figures from the Welsh Revenue Authority show that 28% of properties sold from March 2019 to April 2020 were purchased as second homes.

There are currently 1,194 long-term empty properties and 1,460 second homes in Conwy county – while there are 891 families on the housing waiting list.

According to the register of interests, his opponent Janet Finch-Saunders is one Senedd’s biggest landlords, owning or jointly owning ten properties in the county. She also jointly owns a rental property in Menai Bridge.

The constituency has changed hands between Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives a few times in the past. In the 2016 Senedd election the Conservatives held the seat by 750 votes.

Cllr Wynne said: “Every vote really does count here in Aberconwy. This puts people here in a really enviable position, voters here can send a real signal to the Tory party to not take us for granted.

“We need an MS here who gets it, who understands what the daily struggles are like for ordinary people.

“People here are crying out for a fair housing system, not one that is just here to serve the interests of landlords and holiday home owners.”

‘Environmental crisis’

He added:  “They want a representative who will fight hard on the environmental crisis, this is one of the regions worst hit by that crisis, with flooding causing so much damage in the Conwy Valley.

“People here want to see the NHS protected from venture capitalists and their schools properly funded.

“In Conwy people can see what a disaster the Conservatives have been at running the council, where council tax goes up every year, but our schools have to come begging for money.

“This is a chance for a real change and an opportunity to send a message to the establishment, enough is enough.”

Eddie Butler said: “Aaron is the sort of person we need in the Senedd, he is compassionate and passionate in equal measures.

“He understands the daily struggles of most people because he and his family live them, like many across Aberconwy.

“He does not believe the people of Wales should grovel in gratitude to the government, he knows the government is here to serve the people.

“A vote for him will herald a change for the better and see someone who understands and wants to help get in and work for all the people of the constituency.

“It’s so close in Aberconwy, every vote really counts so please get out and vote for Aaron Wynne.”