Labour reveal Martyn Singleton as candidate

The Labour Party has adopted 29 year old Martyn Singleton as their choice to fight the Montgomeryshire seat at the May 7 General Election.

Mr Singleton, who is studying for an MA in journalism at Staffordshire University, previously stood as Labour’s Welsh Assembly candidate in Dwyfor Meirionydd in 2011 against Plaid Cymru’s Lord Ellis Thomas.

Born in St Asaph, Mr Singleton was raised in the Wrexham area and studied at Bangor University where he developed a keen interest in politics.

“I have always been interested in the trade union movement and have been actively supporting Labour since I was 18,” he said.

The candidate is under no illusion about the task he faces in Montgomeryshire but is determined to increase his party’s percentage of the vote.

In the 2010 election Labour only managed 2,407 votes, finishing behind Plaid Cymru, to win just 7.1 per cent of the votes.

“I’m approaching the election with a realistic view,” he said. “There’s going to be strong competition between Glyn Davies for the Conservatives and Jayne Dodds for the Liberal Democrats and my target is to increase Labour’s share of the vote.”

He sees new votes coming from Plaid Cymru, The Green Party and possibly the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Singleton says he will be supporting the Labour manifesto released this week and will be fighting to maintain healthcare standards in Montgomeryshire and against school closures.

Owen Smith, the outgoing Shadow Secretary of State for Wales and MP for Pontypridd will be dropping into Welshpool on Thursday to back Mr Singleton’s campaign.