It gives me great satisfaction to deliver my first piece for this newspaper.
The South Wales Argus has established a formidable reputation across this area, and I approach these upcoming writings with real eagerness.
Having previously pursued my education at the Cross Keys site of Coleg Gwent, I remember how the Argus and its reporting of regional political affairs often triggered lively debates. The paper has long championed local people, and I hope this custom will continue.
As this represents my first column following my election, contemplating the recent vote feels unavoidable. The result was significant, with Reform becoming the second-largest group in the Senedd, obtaining 34 seats and winning 29.3 percent of votes cast. No less than 367,985 Welsh voters backed Reform. To both supporters and those who did not choose us, I promise that my colleagues and I will work diligently throughout this Senedd term to represent your concerns and hold the Plaid Cymru administration to account.
Throughout our campaign activities, calling on homes and engaging with community members, the welcome my team and I received was truly touching. As the voting numbers demonstrate, enormous numbers of people align with our principles. Nevertheless, I was surprised by how this support was often depicted in media coverage. One noteworthy example involved press coverage of a visit I made to Merthyr Tydfil alongside Nigel Farage, where substantial crowds enthusiastically showed their approval.
With that background in place, here is an uncomfortable truth. I accept the right of those with contrary opinions to maintain their stance. I understand their perspective may differ from mine and that of 367,985 other supporters, yet I respect that right. What concerns me greatly, though, is how often my colleagues and I are accused of creating division, or worse. Such labels feature prominently in opposition communications. While critics call Reform divisive, I would describe this tactic as the politics of disdain, representing the most extreme form of name-calling.
I would suggest that those supporting Reform have become exhausted by receiving such contempt from establishment figures, feeling dismissed, talked down to, and treated as simpletons when raising concerns about mounting NHS waiting times, school standards, and transport systems. The matters we raise mirror the wishes of 367,985 people and more.
During my Politics A Level studies at Cross Keys College in years gone by, one of our early discussions focused on what politics actually means. The interpretation that stayed with me from Bernard Crick emphasised settling disagreements through dialogue and compromise rather than force, famously describing politics as a process through which conflicts are resolved peacefully.
Given recent distressing events, this description feels even more relevant. I would urge those wielding influence in the Senedd and their equivalents in established media outlets to consider their role in alienating those with divergent views. Behaviour ranging from politicians’ insulting remarks to journalists hunting for damaging snippets during interviews all contribute to an atmosphere of hostility.
We may hold opposing, frequently deeply held convictions about current conditions and potential solutions, yet addressing these disputes with respect, honesty, and above all, principle forms the essential basis of our democratic society.
Dan Thomas represents Casnewydd Islwyn in the Senedd.