Hello, I’m Hanna Andersen, your Women’s Equality Party candidate in Mid & South Pembrokeshire.

Full statement

I have lived in Wales almost all my life and I’m standing in this election because inequality is deepening, poverty is skyrocketing and our vital public services have been driven to the brink. The old political parties, whose failings drove us here, lack the will and ambition to change it. We can’t go on like this.

We need big, bold ideas to deliver the kind of change we need to reverse this. This is a moment for political courage, but all that seems to be on offer in this general election is the same tired economic approaches that created this mess in the first place.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We must look further than just GDP, after all who is that growth benefiting when we still can’t pay our energy bills or access care when we need it? Creating change here means structuring our economy so it delivers on health and happiness, as well as wealth.

How do we do it?

Invest in care by introducing Universal Free Childcare and a National Social Care system which is free at the point of use. End child poverty by increasing child benefit, putting an immediate stop to the harmful two-child benefit cap and increasing carer’s allowance. Build climate positive communities by expanding accessible public transport and introduce a national programme of insulation and green energy retrofitting for homes. Reimagine work by protecting flexible working and the right to work from home, shortening the work week, expanding carers leave and improving sick pay provision.

This investment would deliver huge returns for us all, from easing the immense pressure on the NHS, to generating wealth, and creating jobs in caring sectors—which are some of the most important and lowest carbon jobs in the world.

This general election, send a message that the old parties can’t ignore. Vote for Hanna Andersen, Women’s Equality Party on 4th July.

The only way we can have a better future is to imagine it.