I hope you all had a great Christmas and celebrated the New Year in style.
It has been an excellent 2009 for Liberal Youth Wales – Starting with the relaunch at Spring Conference in Cardiff, our incredibly successful campaigns, and at Fresher’s Fayre’s up and down Wales in September we increased our membership by 50%. However all of this was thanks to the people who ran Liberal Youth Wales. I would like to thank the current executive members, and those who have stood down this year, namely Corey, Richard and Leanne for their part in making Liberal Youth Wales what it is, and I hope the updated executive, including our new members Craig and Hannah will help to build on their successes.
This has been a big year for me as well. Joining the Welsh Liberal Democrats back in May and getting involved with Liberal Youth Wales campaigns really opened my eyes. Before getting involved with the fantastic Homophobia is Gay campaign, I naively had no idea how bad the issue was. Whilst helping the campaign at the Cardiff Mardi Gras in the summer, I heard stories of homophobic bullying in schools, workplaces and general public life from members of the LGBT community and was horrified by their stories. I truly believe that everyone has the right to be exactly who they are and should be accepted and respected for it. Now, as your new Chair, I am waiting for the Welsh Assembly Government to release it’s guidance on the issue, and if I am not satisfied that it adequately protects those rights then our campaign will continue into the New Year.
We also had a protest outside the Senedd against tuition fees. We had support from members of other parties as well, however Plaid Cymru went to the extreme of expelling one of their student members from their party for speaking out at the protest about the issue. And after all the confusion caused by the press and our opposition last September on our stance on fees, let me be very clear. The Liberal Democrats have continuously opposed tuition fees and will continue to do so at the General Election next year.
And that brings us onto 2010. It’s the General Election year. At some point in the next six months it will happen. And Liberal Youth Wales is ready and waiting to take the fight to Labour and the Tories. We have had three decades of both parties getting it wrong on so many issues. So my New Years Message ends with me asking you some questions.
Do you think that it is fair that the families on the lowest incomes pay choking rates of income tax, while the richest in society use loopholes to legally move their money overseas and avoid paying their share?
Do you think that it is fair that if you go to University you are expected to build up debts which could be in excess of £20,000, just for wanting to further your education?
Do you think that it is fair that rail, the most efficient means of transport, is ridiculously expensive compared to internal flights, the least efficient means?
Do you think it is fair that Labour and the Tories are talking about necessary cuts in public spending, but will not accept the suggested reform of the Parliamentary expenses system?
My answer to those questions is definitely not. And if you agree with me and my executive, and the party we are affiliated with, then help us take the fight for a fairer, greener, freer Wales.
It’s your future. If you keep your needs and demands to yourself, then those who represent you cannot do anything for you.
So when the General Election comes, join with us, and be a part of it.
Matt Smith is the new Chair of Liberal Youth Wales/Ieuenctid Rhyddfrydol Cymru and is a student at Glamorgan University.
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