Norman John Price, Plaid Cymru

Born in 1955, Norman John Price was brought up in Cefn Hengoed and Aberbargoed; and was educated at Bedwellty Grammar School before studying at the Cardiff Institute of Food Technology and working as a chef and hotel manager at various locations in both England and Wales.

A freelance chef since 2000, he divides work with various interests including music, travel and membership of Beaufort Male Choir. Married to wife Tina for almost 25 years, he lives on Frost Road, Beaufort, Blaenau Gwent.

John has been a Plaid Cymru/The Party of Wales supporter since the age of 14 and grew up in a Plaid home, where he learnt true socialist values.

A veteran of several successful campaigns including that of the late Dr Phil Williams in 1999, he has been Chairman of Plaid Cymru Blaenau Gwent since 2004.

John is an ardent socialist who believes passionately that only by greater inward investment can the Valleys be revitalised.

New Labour, with its neo-Conservative policies masquerading as a social agenda, simply will not do.

"For more than 30 years we have seen a gradual disintegration in Valleys life and Valleys culture," he says.

"Blaenau Gwent has one of the highest levels of ill health anywhere within Wales or Britain, yet insufficient funding has been allocated by the Tories and New Labour alike to improve matters.

"Employment levels are low, and for the most part such work as we do have is low-paid and unsatisfying, with no sense of job security to speak of.

"Many people are doing jobs they did not originally train for and their sense of alienation from what they might have been is enormous.

"Not everyone wants to quit the Valleys in search of more secure employment, and I for one ask why should they have to do so.

"Social justice is a right not a privilege, and government has a duty to provide.

"This Labour has comprehensively failed to do, and we have only to look around us to see this.

"What is needed is true and proper representation of the people, representation that will ensure a secure environment for business and public sector initiatives alike.

"We need greater investment in health, education and employment opportunities - something only a truly socialist agenda can offer.

"I promise I shall work my hardest, and harder still, to secure the best for Blaenau Gwent."