Interview with Richard Bertin, Independent Socialist sitting candiate for Barry (Court ward) in the Vale of Glamorgan local elections on 3rd May.They used to say in parts of Wales a donkey could get elected if it wore a Labour rosette, but in recent years as Old Labour has become New Labour, we have seen Labour support often melting away in their heartlands, equally though we have seen a number of ‘True Labour’ ex-Labour independents winning elections. This week I caught up with Richard Bertin who is standing for the council in Barry. Richard was first elected as a Labour councillor, but then served Court ward as an independent.
Hi Richard, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
I work for Cardiff Bus as a bus driver driving around Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan which is good because I get to meet people and find out the public opinion on issues that affect their day to day lives.
I am a socialist because I believe in public ownership, working together and equality. We are not seeing this and need to do more to ensure we get it. I am also a pacifist and against all war and will do all I can to resist it.
My political background is in the trade union movement and I am committed to fighting for fairness and social justice. I signed up as a union member at the age of 16 and have held various posts before becoming a Labour Party member in the 1990s.
