The Scramble: A 2015 UK General Election Game (Gameplay Thread)

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Plaid Cymru Campaign Week 1:  A Real Voice for Wales



March 30th:  Leanne Wood holds Plaid Cymru's Campaign kick-off Rally at Holyhead, in the constituency of Ynys Môn.

April 1st:  Leanne Wood holds a rally with Plaid Candidate Mike Parker at Aberystwyth in the constituency of Ceredigion, saying the LibDems and Mark Williams betrayed the families of Ceredigion and Wales by going along with Tory Austerity and privatising the NHS with the Health and Social Care Act.

April 2nd:  Leanne Wood gives a speech with Vaughan Williams at Llanelli in the consituency of Llanelli, attacking Labour as a "Tory Lite" party that will continue Austerity, and says Plaid will fight against any more cuts to Services and for an end to Austerity.

April 3rd:  Leanne Wood campaigns in the constituencies of Neath and Rhondda with Daniel Thomas (Neath Candidate) and Shelley Rees-Owen (Rhondda Candidate), calling for the same devolution deal the Scots are getting and for a living wage to help Welsh workers.

April 4th:  Leanne Wood holds rallies in the constituencies of Caerphilly and Pontypridd with Beci Newton (Caerphilly Candidate) and Osian Lewis (Pontypridd).  At the Caerphilly rally she calls for the EU to be reformed to focus on helping it's population rather than Corporations.  At the Pontypridd rally she attacks Labour and Owen Smith as Blairites who have no real ideology and are just after power.

April 5th:  Leanne Wood campaigns with Cerith Griffiths in the constituency of Cynon Valley, calling for Wales to get the same "funding per head" deal that Scotland has, in order to boost Wales' social services and economic investment.

April 6th:  Leanne Wood holds rallies in the constituencies of Aberconwy and Clywd West with Dafydd Meurig (Aberconwy Candidate) and Marc Jones (Clywd West Candidate).  At both Rallies, Leanne Wood attacks UKIP as "Xenophobic Radicals" who wish only to move the UK backwards, abandon the EU and it's benefits completely rather than attempting reform, and promote useless spending on the military rather than on the Welsh economy.


Campaign Point Spending:  Canvassing in the constituencies of Ynys Mon, Ceredigion, Neath, Rhondda, and Cynon Valley.  (5 Points)

Canvassing in the constituencies of Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, Aberconwy, Caerphilly, Clywd West, and Llanelli (5 Points)

Internal poll for Wales or Ynys Mon (Depending on if it's Regional or Constituency based polling:  5 points)

(OOC Note:  I'm having Leanne campaign with Plaid candidates in each individual constituency.  In addition, any italicized event will be in a separate post)

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Plaid Cymru Campaign Kick-Off Rally, Holyhead, Ynys Môn Constituency



Hello people of Ynys Môn!  Today I'm here to announce the kickoff of Plaid Cymru's campaign for the 2015 General Election!  Now, for the past 5 years Wales has endured cut after cut in social spending from the Tories and their LibDem allies, and have watched as Scotland is promised new powers while Wales receives nothing at all.  In addition to this, Labour, the supposed "Progressive" option has said time and again that they'll continue Tory cuts and offer nothing to the people of Wales but what the Tories offer, more cuts and pain.  Finally, we have a new party, UKIP, or as I like to call them "BNP-Lite."  They offer the same racist, xenophobic, and reactionary policies that the BNP do, except in a more photogenic package.

I'm here today to announce that Wales has another option.  A truly progressive option that will fight to end Austerity and social cuts, for a fairer tax system, for a living wage for Welsh workers, for a Public and unprivatized NHS, for reforming the European Union so it benefits it's people and Wales rather than corporations, and for the same funding system and powers that Scotland is receiving, so Wales has the ability to govern and benefit itself and it's people effectively. 

In the end, Wales has had enough of the past 5 years of destructive policies, and it's time for change.  Plaid Cymru is that change, and offers A Real Voice for Wales this election.  Thank you all for your time and I will see you all on the campaign trail, goodnight!

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Leanne Wood responds to Farage in Interview:
Says Farage's responses to criticisms are absolutely false:



Wood:  "Well, I guess I should address the big purple Elephant in the room.  Mr. Farage decided to respond to my criticisms of UKIP with an attempt at slandering myself and Plaid, saying I called UKIP supporters "prejudiced radicals."  I believe he should listen to what I said again, as I called UKIP the party "Xenophobic Radicals", not it's supporters.  UKIP supporters are most of the time hardworking and just barely getting by, but the candidates and officials of UKIP have repeatedly been outed as racists, bigots, and xenophobes, such as in the cases of Andre Lampitt*, David Silvester**, William Henwood***, and even UKIP MEP Gerard Batten****.  It's clear to Plaid and myself that the candidates and officials of UKIP have repeatedly shown their true colors and are not fit to govern a broom closet, let alone be members of parliament representing Wales. 

Now, First in response to Mr. Farage's question on Plaid's position on Defense, Plaid is opposed to the current defense cuts that PM Cameron has enacted, but we do not believe we should increase defense spending from it's current point either.  Plaid believes that we should spend the money cut from defense by Cameron should be spent on aftercare for Veterans rather than increasing spending on the Military.  Spending we wouldn't need if we were to stay out of foreign conflicts as UKIP suggests. 

Secondly, on the EU, again Mr. Farage misinterpreted what I said.  I said that UKIP wishes to abandon the EU completely without attempting reform.  I never made any mention of a vote on EU Membership, only on UKIP's support for leaving the EU if such a referendum were to occur.  Plaid believes that the EU should be reformed in a way that will benefit the people of the EU rather than corporations, and that Wales and the UK as a whole have far more benefits in staying and reforming the EU, rather than leaving.  Also, for the record I believe that in a hypothetical EU referendum the UK would vote to stay within the EU rather than leave."




(Sources for UKIP Members/Candidates Scandals
*https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/24/ukip-member-broadcast-suspended-racist-tweets
**https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/19/ukip-councillor-gay-people-spiritual-disease-pray-healed-david-silvester
***https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/27/ukip-comments-lenny-henry-jeremy-hunt
****https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/04/ukip-mep-gerard-batten-muslims-sign-charter-rejecting-violence )

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Plaid Debate Answers:

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"Now this is a question I'm glad was asked, because what Plaid is proposing is a completely different approach to the deficit.  Plaid cannot promise that our plan will completely eliminate the deficit within 5 years, as that would be irresponsible and be predicting events beyond our control. However, what I can promise is that we will bring an end to austerity while still cutting significantly into the deficit, something none of the parties have promised so far.

Plaid's plan would involve cutting the wasteful and ultimately useless spending that is the replacement of Trident, reducing significantly the amount of waste we will have on nuclear weapons that would never be used in any war, and instead putting that money towards the budget.  On taxes, Plaid supports restoring the 50p additional tax rate on Britons making more than £150,000 per year, and doubling the banker's levy, both of which will help equalize our tax system and produce a significant amount of revenue without cutting vital social programs.  Additionally on taxes, we support restoring the staff of the HMRC to it's level before the Blair cuts, in order to hunt down corporations and wealthy who are contributing to a tax gap of an estimated 120 billion pounds. 

Now, of course in addition to these reforms we are calling for increased social spending, such as more doctors for the NHS, especially in Wales, giving Wales the same "funding per head" deal Scotland receives, and increasing business rate relief for small businesses, as well as avoiding any more austerity based cuts, so we definitely can't promise to completely end the deficit.  However, Plaid Cymru can promise definitively that if we were to enter government and fulfill our promises, we would make a significant dent in the deficit, while also protecting the most vulnerable in our society, which is what a responsible and caring government should do, and it's what Plaid will do for Wales and the UK."

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"Ah, now this is one question where Plaid actually agrees, partially, with UKIP.  We do agree that the EU is currently not working as well as it should for the UK, and we would support an In-Out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, but that is where our agreement with UKIP ends on this issue.  Plaid believes that Wales, and the UK as a whole are still better off within the EU, and that the UK should propose reforms to the EU rather than leave it, and endanger the hundreds of thousands in our country who are helped by the UK's membership within the EU.

Now, what is it that Plaid proposes we do to reform the EU?  We propose reforming the EU overall so as to stop benefits to international corporations and big banks, and instead reform the EU so it truly benefits it's population, especially Wales and the UK, rather than the men in glass towers. Plaid also opposes the proposed EU-US Free Trade agreement, which would benefit corporations rather than the people of the UK and Wales, as well as possibly privatize our NHS, which is something we cannot tolerate.  Plaid will also push for closing the second EU Parliament in Strasbourg, which is a huge waste of money for the nations of the EU, and finally Plaid supports keeping the funding granted to Wales by the EU for it's regions should continue going directly to Wales, rather than being distributed by a Westminster government that fails to know what Wales wishes to do with it's money. 

After these reforms are implemented, and the EU truly helping the people of Wales and the UK, Plaid would propose an In-Out referendum on EU membership to give the decision to the people on whether to stay in a reformed EU or not.  In the end, we believe wholeheartedly that the people of the UK would support staying in that new EU, and that they support now staying within the EU and reforming it rather than abandoning it completely."

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"I'm happy that I get to clarify Plaid's position on this, as this is certainly needed.  Plaid would not push for an independence referendum, in the immediate future, if we were granted the powers we have asked for in our manifesto, for two reasons. 

First off, the people of Wales don't really wish to leave the UK at the moment, as shown by the most recent poll by BBC Wales*. At this time, only 6% of the people of Wales support independence. Secondly, if Wales were granted the powers we've asked for, we would succeed in achieving the ability to govern ourselves effectively, as well as receiving our fair share of funding, an absolutely huge goal for Plaid. If this were achieved Wales would have sovereignty over itself and the powers it deserves, and there would be no reason for Wales to leave the UK for the time being.

Now, I cannot rule out a referendum on independence permanently, as situations do change with time, and I don't have the right to speak for future leaders of Plaid Cymru. However, I can promise that if granted the powers we've asked for, Plaid would not push for an independence referendum for the immediate future."


(BBC Wales Poll:  https://www.icmunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2015_bbcwales_march_poll.pdf )

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Plaid Debate Response to Milliband

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"Mr. Milliband, I believe you've forgotten one key policy of Labour regarding the deficit, Austerity. The fact is that you*, Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls**, and the Labour Party are committed to continuing Tory cuts that have harmed Wales and the UK's social services for the past 5 years, yet you only gave your support for Austerity a vague mention in an attempt at appearing to care for the people of the UK and Wales. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Ed Milliband is clear proof that Labour is still the party of Blair, and does not have the interests of the working people of this country at heart.  Instead of going after useless spending, such as Trident, Labour will go after the vital social services that give the working people of Wales and the UK a chance, and that is something we cannot afford.  Labour's moved on from protecting the people of Wales and the UK, and it's time we move on from them."




(*Milliband Support for Austerity:  https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/labour-will-keep-austerity-says-miliband-1-3300839
**Ed Balls support for Austerity:  https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/12/balls-reaffirms-labours-commitment-cuts-2015 )

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Plaid Debate Response to Farage

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"Well Mr. Farage, I believe you're wrong on this, and I do believe our approach is realistic for two reasons.

First, I don't believe the EU is as unworkable as you say at all, and can certainly be open to reform. In addition, our reforms are aiming to benefit purely the people of the UK, Wales, and all people of the EU, and I believe they would receive significant support from people and parties in every nation in the EU. Also, the EU would be facing a demand for reform from the second largest economy in the EU, and with that in mind I believe those "unelected bureaucrats" you mention would have to at the very least consider the reforms, and would end up enacting them.

Secondly, you are correct in that Plaid would most likely end up supporting a Labour government, however you seem to underestimate the power we would have in that case.  Currently we seem to be heading for a hung parliament, and in that situation Plaid would be those crucial few votes between a government succeeding or failing, and we would make sure to use that power for progress for Wales and the UK.  We would demand that any coalition or deal formed with Labour would go through with each of the Pledges we layed out in our manifesto, of course including our proposed reforms for the EU. With that in mind, I believe Mr. Milliband would be willing to go ahead with our reforms to the EU and a referendum on EU membership, and with the people of the UK behind him I certainly think he'd succeed in getting the reforms passed. 

So to conclude, I do believe our approach is a realistic one, as the EU is not as unworkable as you say, and because Plaid Cymru will have the power to make sure those reforms are passed by a government we'd enter."

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Plaid Cymru Campaign Week 2:  A Real voice for Wales



April 7th:  Leanne Wood releases Plaid Cymru's Manifesto, Real Progress for Wales, in the constituency of Llanelli.  After the manifesto release, Leanne campaigns with Vaughan Williams, attacking Nia Griffith and Labour for supporting Tory Austerity.

April 8th:  Leanne Wood holds a rally in Ceredigion, attacking the LibDems and Mark Williams' record.

April 9th:  Leanne Wood campaigns in Cardiff West and Pontypridd with Neil McEvoy (Cardiff West Candidate) and Osian Lewis (Pontypridd Candidate), campaigning on Plaid's promises to repeal the Health and Social Care Act of 2012 which would lead to NHS privatization, and on bringing an additional 1000 doctors into the Welsh NHS.

April 10th:  Leanne Wood holds a rally in Rhondda, attacking Labour for their yielding to the Tories.

April 11th:  Leanne Wood holds rallies in Aberconwy and Clywd West with Dafydd Meurig (Aberconwy Candidate) and Marc Jones (Clywd West Candidate).  At both rallies she attacks the Conservatives as cowards, too afraid to face the people of Wales after 5 years of destroying their lives with cuts to their social services.

April 12th:  Leanne Wood holds a rally in Ynys Môn with John Rowlands, touting Plaid's support for an end to Austerity, and for ending the replacement of Trident.

April 13th:  Leanne Wood campaigns in Neath and Cynon Valley with Daniel Thomas (Neath Candidate) and Cerith Griffiths (Cynon Valley Candidate), campaigning on doubling the banker's levy and hunting down corporate and income tax evasion.

April 14th:  Leanne Wood holds rallies in the constituencies of Carmathen West (And South Pembrokshire) and Gower with Elwyn Williams (Carmathen West Candidate) and Darren Thomas (Gower Candidate).  At both rallies Leanne Wood attacks the Tory bedroom tax and welfare spending cap as measures that cripple the working people of Wales, and touts Plaid's support for repealing them.

Campaign Point Spending:  Canvassing in the constituencies of Ynys Mon, Ceredigion, Llanelli, Rhondda, and Aberconwy.  (5 Points)

Internal Poll for Wales. (5 Points)

Billboard Ad on the NHS to be deployed in all 40 Constituencies of Wales. (10 Points)

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Plaid Cymru Campaign Events, Week 2


April 8th:  Plaid Cymru Rally in Ceredigion



Hello people of Rhondda! Today I wish to present you all with a choice, it's a rather simple one actually.  We're faced with essentially 2 choices this election, red Tories, and Plaid Cymru. I wish to discuss what the red Tories, or the Labour party as they wish to call themselves, have to offer Wales. 

First off, let's discuss Labour's position on the EU.  Well, there doesn't seem to be much of one actually, they've made vague promises on reform rather than truly committing to anything. As a contrast, Plaid has made it clear that we'll reform the EU to better serve it's population instead of corporations, we oppose the EU-US trade deal that could partially privatize the NHS, and we believe that all funding from the EU to Wales should continue going directly to Wales, rather than distributed from Westminster. Clearly, one party has the interests of the people in mind on the EU, while the other has nothing in mind at all.

Secondly, there is an issue which Labour actually has something in mind for, the budget.  However, what they have in mind isn't good for the people of Wales and the UK at all, they've committed to continuing Tory Austerity, keeping Trident's replacement, and keeping the welfare spending cap. Rather than going after corporate and income tax evasion, which Labour actually helped expand with Blair's cuts to the HMRC, or after the utterly useless spending that is replacing Trident, they're committed to harming the working class with more cuts to social services, and restricting welfare spending, cutting off working people who rely on welfare to survive from aid they need, and endangering them should another recession occur.  Plaid thinks differently here as well.  We're committed to ending the disaster of Austerity, eliminating the welfare cap, doubling the banker's levy, reversing Blair's cuts to the HMRC and hunting down tax evasion, and ending Trident's replacement.  Plaid is committed to truly protecting the working people of Wales and the UK through ending the pain of Austerity, Labour cannot say the same.

In the end, the choice for Wales is simple.  Should we continue down Labour's path of false change, as they continue Tory policies of shafting the working class and ignoring Welsh interests, or should we choose progress, change, and helping the working people of our nation by ending Austerity, reforming the EU to help it's people, and giving Wales the powers and funding it deserves so it can govern and care for it's people effectively. Plaid is that change, and the real voice Wales deserves after years of being ignored by Labour.  Thank you all for your time.