Labour Lies – Scare Tactics will not Work
This is a great poster from the Scottish Conservatives;
These are lies being repeated all over the country. My Labour opponent here in Aberconwy has sent out a letter (which was given to me by an irate elector on Saturday morning) which states;
1. The Conservatives plan to scrap the minimum wage - NOT TRUE
2. The Conservatives plan to scrap family tax credits - NOT TRUE
3. The Conservatives plan to make massive spending cuts in the NHS - NOT TRUE
There are numerous other lies in the letter and I'm surprised to see Mr Hughes being willing to use scare tactics in order to try and win here in Aberconwy. We as a team have dealt with numerous calls on these issues (including a distraught young mother who thought that a Conservative victory would mean that she could not continue her teacher training course at Bangor because as a 20hr per week worker she needed the family tax credit top-up to keep her finances in order). What Mr Hughes and Labour need to understand is that their lies in order to persuade people to vote Labour out of fear is hurting real people here in Aberconwy today.
Of course, in view of the allegations in the Sunday Times today that the Labour Party have been targeting cancer patients with claims that they would not be treated under a Conservative Government, we should not be surprised at the behaviour of the local Labour Party. However, in my view such negative lying campaigns will not work. Shame on the Labour Party for stooping so low and shame on the Aberconwy Labour Party for being willing to play along.
Guto
Posted in 
I realise that this conversation has run its course but I must clarify, and defend, myself over your last comment.
My comment about being working class was a flippant remark to counter Julie from Llandudno's suspect claims in your party's advertisement. Whilst it is true that my family has traditionally voted Labour/Plaid I am much more liberal than my parents but we are all defined by our backgrounds.
It appears that you believe that the needs of the 21st century can be met with the same old Conservative policies of the past: Tax cuts for the rich and; cuts in public services. These are 20th century, Thatcherite, solutions.
It has, at the very least, been interesting to talk to you and whilst I'll vote Plaid on May 6th I suspect, as you must do, that you will win Aberconwy. Isn't it nice that we can finally agree on something?
Which tax cuts for the rich Gareth? And was it not the saintly Vince Cable who said that any cuts that we face will be worse than those (allegedly) made in the 1980?
I thank you for responding again in a constructive manner - we do not agree but I fully respect your right to look at the world in a different way. Good luck with the baby.
Guto,
Whilst I appreciate you taking the time to reply to my obviously facetious post, I still can not agree with your party's policy on this. You are still planning on penalising hard working nurses (and teachers etc.) at a time when MPs pay is still increasing. This amounts to nothing more than cuts in the NHS. You can wrap it up and claim that it's cost cutting but it's really just cuts. You may have confidence that nurses won't strike, as nurses don't want to put patients lives at risk, but you may find that they begin working-to-rule. Nurses have always worked unpaid overtime so patient services are going to badly hit even with this level of dispute. I doubt you can have the same level of confidence that other public sector workers don't strike (again we can perhaps mention teachers) especially as the current economic climate wasn't brought about by these workers, even if they are the ones being penalised.
Neither you nor Labour will admit that the days of empire are over and scrap Trident. A conventional defense system in a world whose greatest threat comes from global terrorism. You'd both rather have a nice new toy than a decent health service.
Sadly I missed you when you were canvassing my area, but I would have only got excited and challenged you on something else like fox-hunting or the BBC instead. Being working-class, unlike Julie from Llandudno, it's not in my upbringing to vote Tory and it never will be, so I doubt you would have eased my fears and I doubt you would have gained anything out of the experience other than a headache.
Anyway, as I said, thanks for replying.
We would probably not have agreed on any of the above points.
Your comment about MP pay is reasonable (and would not happen under the Conservative £18k proposal but did under Labour). Your comment about Trident is interesting and offers you the chance to vote Plaid or Liberal since both parties feel that they can use cutting Trident as their stock response to all their spending commitments. This might be good for a cheap election point scoring debate but the money saved can only be saved once. It is not a credible response to our real needs as a country. Your comment about your working class background is rather sad. Why o why do you define yourself voting intention on the basis of your family background rather than the needs of the UK in the 21st century.
Lies must be exposed for what they are = lies! Ronnie's porkies not only bring Labour into disrepute (I can live with that) but also besmirch politics at a time when politics is lacking respect. That makes it even more difficult for us. Is it not possible to call Ronnie to account? How about at the hustings at Venue Cymru which you will be attending on Thursday evening?
Derek
Guto,
My wife is a nurse in Llandudno Hospital, and we are expecting our second child in June. I read with interest that you are planning on freezing pay on public-sector workers earning more than £18,000 a year. So, I was just wondering when you wanted to pop 'round and smack the spoon out of my daughter's mouth? I mean, Thursday is good for me if you're not too busy. Obviously we will have to arrange a future date for 'spoon smacking' as soon as my second daughter has moved onto solids.
Thanks.
Dear Gareth,
Workers in the private sector have agreed to lower pay, part-time working and unpaid overtime in order to keep their jobs and ensure that their companies keep on trading during this economic crisis. The proposal to freeze public sector pay for staff earning over £18,000 is designed to protect those on the lowest salaries whilst reflecting the need for the country to pay its way. The proposed wage freeze will also protect numerous jobs through the savings that will be made.
I will, of course, be delighted to discuss this issue with you when I'm canvassing in your area.