Below is a message read out on behalf of Anthony Slaughter – leader of the Welsh Green Party – at this year’s conference. The message was read out by John Dane, Cardiff Vale and Valleys, and Wales officer for the Trans Greens. Earlier this year Anthony was diagnosed with cancer and talked publicly about this. The message reads:
Conference, greetings from Wales and my heartfelt apologies that I am unable to join you at our biggest ever conference. A conference to celebrate our fantastic growth and achievements over the last year across both nations and an opportunity to consolidate and build on those victories as we move forward to even more electoral success at every level, starting of course with the election of our sixth Green MP next Thursday in Holborn and St Pancras.
Many of you may be aware that I have had ongoing health issues over the last couple of years which is why I am unable to join you this weekend. This culminated in surgery earlier this summer. My recovery is going well, and I am now back at work in the Senedd as normal, representing my constituents and raising those issues so important to our Green agenda in the Siambr. My heartfelt thanks to all those friends and colleagues who have shared such moving messages of care and support. Special thanks also to John for stepping forward to read this statement on my behalf at such short notice.
Here in Wales, our breakthrough into the Senedd, with the election of myself and Paul Rock as our first Green members, was a truly historic breakthrough and in a short few months the people of Wales have seen the difference elected Greens in our national Parliament make as we continue to work hard on issues such as renters’ rights, climate and nature resilience, trans rights and so much more. I think this is an important moment to thank and recognise all those friends from England who crossed the border so often to help us achieve this success. Success that I am confident we will build on next May as we get Greens elected across Cymru in the nationwide Local Authority elections.
Of course our success in Wales does not stand in isolation. It is part of the wider Green surge that saw fantastic results across England, from Hannah’s historic by-election win in Gorton and Denton and breakthroughs across so many Councils and stunning results in London, particularly Hackney and Lewisham.
Together, we did this, each and every one of you who worked so hard to ensure as many people as possible have the elected Green representation both our nations so desperately need.
This is only the beginning, and I look forward to continuing to join you all on the campaign trail and at future conferences as we continue to build our movement.
Thank you! Diolch o Galon!
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