Natasha Asghar, the Welsh Conservatives’ lead candidate for the Casnewydd Islwyn constituency, has said politicians must rebuild trust with voters who feel let down by devolution.

The Conservatives are presenting May’s Senedd elections as an opportunity to fix Wales through economic growth and investment, funded by tax cuts and reducing waste.

The candidate, who served in shadow cabinet roles covering transport and education during the previous parliamentary term, stated her party would reverse the freeze on new road construction and support scrapping the default 20mph speed limits.

She contends both measures would boost Wales economically, questioning how the economy can expand without robust infrastructure.

In the Casnewydd Islwyn area, she is advocating for the reopening of the accident and emergency department at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital, improved transport links, and a business rates freeze to rejuvenate town centres.

The Welsh Conservatives were the principal opposition during the previous Senedd term, though recent polling suggests they face a significant challenge this time, with Reform UK poised to compete strongly for conservative voters.

Nevertheless, Ms Asghar plays down polls placing her party in fourth or fifth position as baffling, stating these show completely different trends from what she encounters on the streets of Newport and Islwyn, describing the race as anyone’s game.

She observes the election arrives as the tide has turned for Welsh Labour after 27 years in government, believing voters are now more aware of the Senedd’s role following controversies over Covid rules and 20mph limits.

She accuses those in power, including other parties supporting Labour’s budgets, of having lacked ambition and drive, leading to declining services for residents.

She contends past administrations bungled devolution, resulting in low public opinion of the Senedd itself.

She said people regularly call for its abolition, which is unfortunate as she always supported having an assembly, while expressing reservations about rapidly expanding its powers.

She believes you must learn to crawl properly before walking, then walk properly before running. She doesn’t think they’ve demonstrated they can crawl properly yet they’ve started running.

Regarding the Conservatives’ credibility, the party has never won a devolved Welsh election.

She says they are a dependable group who worked tirelessly over the past five years,