Why I’m standing

Beth Winter MP a voice for our Valleys

A woman with long blonde hair and a green top standing outdoors in a residential neighborhood with houses, a street, and hills in the background.

I grew up in these valleys where I still live with my family and I learnt from an early age about the achievements of our communities:  how the ideas born of hardship and struggle led to the formation of the trade union movement, the NHS, the Labour party itself.

Merthyr and Cynon elected Wales' first ever Labour MP, Keir Hardie, in 1900. He broke the political mould and stood up for working class people. 

Darllen yn gymraeg

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Pledges

5 reasons

A woman speaking to a group of seated people in a room decorated with Christmas artwork and ornaments on a red wall.

I grew up in these valleys where I live with my family and I learnt from an early age about the achievements of our communities: how the ideas born of hardship and struggle led to the formation of our trade union movement, our NHS, and the Labour party itself.

Merthyr and Cynon elected Wales’ first ever Labour MP, Keir Hardie, in 1900. He broke the political mould and stood up for working class people.

A woman with long blonde hair and glasses speaking at a podium during a UNISON event. Behind her is a purple banner with the UNISON logo and the words 'Pay UP Now!' in green and purple.

He went on to lead Labour in Parliament and ensure we were the party standing up for better pay, for equal rights, and for peace.

These ideas were born out of a fight for justice by hard-working people who barely saw the rewards for their labours. And their legacy lives on, inspiring people around the world to this day.

A woman speaking into a megaphone at a protest or rally, surrounded by people holding signs and banners on a city street.

Merthyr Tydfil and Cynon Valley both have a proud industrial heritage. In a post-industrial landscape, they face many of the same issues. We know that people in our community are struggling to pay their bills and feed their families.

However, through collective action we can overcome these obstacles.

A diverse group of nine women and one man standing together indoors in front of a red wall with Welsh and German flags. They are smiling and appear to be celebrating or gathering for a social event.

Welsh Labour in Government, under Mark Drakeford’s leadership, shows us the way, in the tradition of Hardie. From free school meals to a real living wage for care workers, to an increase in Educational Maintenance Allowance, all of which I have campaigned for.

But the Tory Government in Westminster has kept our Welsh Labour Government fighting with one hand tied behind its back.

Two people sitting at a table in a room with a Volkswagen logo in the background. The person on the left is a man with glasses and a beard, wearing a gray T-shirt that says "Kingdubs Vinyl Worx." The person on the right is a woman with long blond hair, wearing a dark dress with floral patterns and a gray blazer, holding a red and yellow flyer about a rally in Clydon Valley.

Merthyr and Cynon need a UK Labour Government working closely with a Welsh Labour Government and delivering fair needs based funding for Wales. It needs a Labour MP who backs trade union campaigns and who will fight against this cost of living scandal.

It needs a Labour MP who backs trade union campaigns, and who will fight against this cost-of-living scandal.

I will help deliver a Labour Government in the UK to work with our Welsh Labour Government, and will not be afraid to stand up for Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon.

As we work together to get rid of this rotten Tory Government, I am asking for your support. Please vote to select me as your candidate for Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon.

Crowd of protesters holding signs and banners, some with messages like "All refugees welcome!" and "Stop racism." A woman in the foreground is speaking into a megaphone. In the background, there are residential buildings and trees.
Two women standing in a library near bookshelves, smiling at the camera. One woman has shoulder-length blonde hair and is wearing a white blouse with embroidered details. The other woman has long blonde hair and is wearing a black top with floral patterns and a red cardigan. In the background, there are children sitting at tables through a window in a classroom.

My pledges to you

These pledges represent the priorities I have worked to advance every day as a Labour MP. I know I can’t win on all these issues alone. I’ll build power in local party and work in collaboration with the broader labour movement to win the future our Valleys deserve.

  • I have prioritised campaigning on the cost-of-living as food and energy bills have soared beyond what pay, pensions and social security can afford.

    Having helped re-establish Rhondda Cynon Taf Trades Union Council, I have stood on picket lines with Unite, UCU,, GMB, the Royal College of Nursing, CWU, PCS and the three rail unions, the RMT, TSSA and ASLEF.

    I will continue to challenge this crisis—standing with workers for better pay and terms and conditions, fairer social security, controls on household bills and food prices, protection of public services. I have taken this message to Welsh Labour, Wales TUC, The World Transformed, and Valleys events such as Merthyr Rising and the Bevan Festival..

  • As the MP for Merthyr Tydfil & Upper Cynon, I will continue to prioritise promoting and supporting the incredible people and organisations in our communities.

    I have already established my own Cynon Valley Business Awards to celebrate local small businesses and recognise Cynon Valley Champions for their contribution to the community.

  • For too long, wealth has been extracted from these valleys. Coal from these hills powered the industrial revolution and made the UK rich, but too little of those profits stayed here.

    Our Valleys are extremely rich, with a wealth of talent, as well as an abundance of natural resources.

    One of my top priorities is to ensure that the wealth made here, stays here, securing jobs for current and future generations.

    Instead of letting it trickle away, we must reinvest profits back into our people, our infrastructure, and the future of our young generation.

    I commissioned the Merthyr-based think tank the Bevan Foundation to undertake research into how we can create a thriving, prosperous local economy. I'm now working in partnership with the public, private and third sectors to turn this research into reality.

Five reasons to support Beth

SUPPORT BETH

A Voice for our Valleys

I will be the strongest Voice for our Valleys. Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon share common concerns.

We need a champion who knows both valleys inside out and will fight for their fair share.

I am the best-known advocate in Parliament for fair funding for Wales, for better pay, pensions and social security and defending our hard fought for democratic rights.

Three smiling people, two women and a man, standing closely together indoors. The women are wearing red shirts, and the man is wearing a red jacket. Behind them are wooden walls and windows.
Two individuals sitting at a table in front of a Volkswagen logo. One person, a man with glasses and a beard, is wearing a light grey t-shirt. The other person, a woman with long blonde hair, is wearing a dark floral dress and holding a poster that reads 'The Cost of Living Crisis in Cynon Valley' and additional details about a rally on September 3, 2022.
Group of ten people smiling and standing together indoors. Behind them is a Welsh flag with a red dragon and a black, red, and white flag. The group includes women and one man, dressed in casual clothing.

Local Knowledge

These valleys are my home. I grew up in Aberdare and I now live in Penderyn with my family. My children attend school locally and my extended family live nearby.

The majority of my working life has been in these valleys working for Shelter Cymru, a community worker in Penywaun and extensive research in Heolgerrig for my doctorate. As a volunteer I have worked in foodbanks, been a school Governor, managed a community service for children and young people.

A woman standing and speaking to a group of people in a room decorated with Christmas artwork on the wall.
Two women standing close together on a residential street, smiling. One woman with long blonde hair, wearing a colorful patterned top, has her arm around the other woman with short blonde hair and glasses, wearing a leopard print top.
Group of people posing outdoors, with three seated women holding bouquets of flowers, and five standing individuals, including a woman dressed as a character with a blonde wig and fringed vest, and a nun in religious habit. The background shows a residential street with houses and flags.
Three people standing on a street, holding red signs that say 'Vote Labour' with a white flame symbol. Two men and one woman are engaged in conversation, dressed casually. There are parked cars and a building in the background.

Proven ability to campaign

Since being elected to Parliament in 2019, I have prioritised campaigning on the cost-of-living crisis, demanding controls on energy bills and food prices and standing with trade unionists for higher pay.

I completed a Cost of Living survey with local constituents, presented a petition to parliament, held local rallies and raised funds for local foodbanks.

Two women standing on a park lawn with fallen leaves, having a conversation under a large umbrella with the BBC News logo, while people and tents are visible in the background.
A woman with long blonde hair, wearing glasses, speaking at a podium with a UNISON banner behind her that reads "PAY UP NOW!" in large letters and has purple, green, and white colors. She is gesturing with her right hand.
A young man and a middle-aged woman are standing outside on a street, smiling, holding political campaign flyers. The young man wears glasses and a red jacket, while the woman has long blonde hair, a dark jacket, and a ring on her finger. Behind them is a brick house with a wooden door and a window, alongside a large tree. They are standing near a red post box.

Working across the movement

I have worked across the Labour Movement for the benefit of all . From the Coop Party and Cwmpas at the 2023 Welsh Labour conference, to sharing a platform with Mark Drakeford at the 2022 UK Labour Conference, addressing the 2022 Wales TUC Congress, and discussing UBI with Andy Burnham at last year's UK Labour Conference in Liverpool.

Two women standing outside, smiling at the camera. The woman on the left has blonde hair and is holding a sign that reads 'Staff shortages cost lives.' The woman on the right has long curly hair, is wearing a blue beanie with the logo of the Royal College of Nursing, and a white apron that says 'The Voice of Nursing.'
Two women holding UNISON campaign signs that read 'I BACK UNISON'S CAMPAIGN TO TACKLE THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS' inside a room with UNISON posters and a large whiteboard with handwritten messages.
A woman protesting with a sign that says, "Claps Don't Pay Bills" amidst a crowd of protesters during a demonstration in an urban setting with historic buildings and streetlights.
Three people standing outside St. Thomas' Hospital holding a protest sign that criticizes the wages of junior doctors. The sign reads, '£14/hour IS NOT A FAIR WAGE FOR A JUNIOR DOCTOR. FULL PAY RESTORATION NOW.' The hospital building is in the background.

Following in Keir Hardie's footsteps

The new Merthyr Tydfil and Upper Cynon constituency reconnects two areas represented by Keir Hardie from 1900-1915.

Keir Hardie inspires me, from his commitment to working-class representation in Parliament, to his progressive internationalist outlook.

He sought to build a better world for the people of the Merthyr and Cynon Valleys and I will continue working to do the same.

A group of people participating in a protest or rally outdoors, with two individuals in the foreground smiling and talking to each other. The man on the left holds an umbrella and has a button that reads "Stand Up to Racism." The woman on the right has long blonde hair and is wearing a dark coat and a red shirt. Signs and banners for education and unions are visible in the background, along with a crowd of protestors and buildings.
A black and white historical photo of a man with a beard, wearing a suit and bowler hat, giving a speech or address to a crowd. The crowd includes men and women dressed in early 20th-century clothing, many wearing hats. The scene appears to be outdoors, possibly at a rally or public event.
A woman with long blonde hair wearing a red top speaking in a public setting, with a woman with white hair and a man in suit seated nearby. Subtitle: 'and Cynon Valley is very much a part of me.'

Will you back Beth Winter MP?
A wnewch chi gefnogi Beth Winter AS?