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By Sean James Cameron.

I met up with Layton Jones, or Percy as he is otherwise known, on a Sunday morning at his Treherbert home. He is sat at the breakfast table reading the Sunday newspapers taking in all the latest political news while BBC News 24 plays on the television screen.

He has worked as a Red Coat at Butlins, is an active community member, has a university degree, was a volunteer for a homeless organisation before being made Assistant Chief Executive of the organisation, served as a local councillor and is now setting his sights on gaining a seat in the UK Government as MP for Rhondda.

"I was overwhelmed by the fact that the party had the confidence in me as a candidate. Reaction from friends and family has been very positive and my employer has been extremely supportive in giving me the time-off to campaign. The members of Plaid voted for me because they know how committed I am to Plaid Cymru and more importantly to the people of Rhondda."

Layton (Percy) Jones first expressed an interest in politics at the age of 16 when he make an application to join the Labour Party. "I remember when I went to my first meeting in Treorchy. I looked round and everyone in that room were the sons and daughters of teachers and doctors and I really felt uncomfortable with it. Then I went away to work in Scotland and I got involved with Labour colleagues in Scotland with the poll tax demos. One day I saw in the newspaper that a Plaid Cymru councillor was the first person in the UK to have the bailiffs sent in - it was Geraint Davies. I couldn't understand why it was a Tory policy and a labour council was sending in the bailiffs. At the time I only knew Geraint as the local pharmacist but I was inspired that there was this man who stood firm to what he believed."

Percy returned to Rhondda at the age of 19 and due to the events surrounding the sad death of a local child he started a petition against the council. "While I was living on 'The Ranch' there was a house fire and a baby was sadly killed. I knew the mother as an old school friend of mine. I felt that due to the fact the property was owned by the council that it was their responsibility to install smoke alarms. I went around all the doors getting loads of support and I gave my petition to the councillors at the time, Geraint Davies and Dorian Rees plus a Labour councillor but he didn’t want to know. The only people to take me seriously were Geraint and Dorian. I then got involved with the party and won a Treherbert seat in the Council."

While a member of Rhondda Cynon Taff Council Percy Jones was appointed Cabinet Member for Better Heath and feels that in this position he gained vast experience. "The portfolio at the time was the largest portfolio in the council. You had to make decision all the time that affected peoples lives, particularly Social Services. I’ve got the experience of dealing with the big issues."

The seat is currently held by Labour member Chris Bryant. "People are going to compare me and Chris Bryant in many ways and I am so different from Chris Bryant in nearly every way. People see him as an educated fellow. I’m from a council estate, I left school with no qualifications and went to work in Butlins as a Red Coat for a number of seasons. I know that I wasted my time in school and when I enrolled on some courses in college I appreciated it far more. I then went onto university in Cardiff to study housing where I was successful in gaining a degree."

"Residents will have two choices in the next election of either a middle class ex-Conservative public school boy originally from outside of the Rhondda or you can have somebody who is in touch with the people. I’m a working class person who was born and brought up in the Rhondda and I live amongst the people of Rhondda, unlike the current MP."

"There are going to be a lot of people who are not going to vote for Labour this time round - they are fed up with the economy, tuition fees, the health service and what I am going to do is show people that they can vote for a candidate who cares about the important issues."

Speaking on the issue of the Iraq war Percy Jones has marched in demonstrations against the conflict. "I'm totally opposed to the Iraq war. It was an unjust war where people got killed for no reason whatsoever. I marched in every single demonstration in London as well as being an active member of Stop The War Collation and I am also a member of CND Cymru. Millions and millions of innocent people were killed in the war not just Iraq's but also our British soldiers for no reason whatsoever. Blair said they had weapons of mass destruction and could be launched within 45 minutes - there has been no evidence of that. Plaid Cymru was the only party that was opposed to the war. Certain other parties are only now jumping on the band wagon but we have said all along that we shouldn't have gone to war. If I had been an MP at the time and my party had agreed to it then I would have resigned because I feel it is an unjust war."

Having worked for Plaid Cymru for the past 15 years Percy Jones feels he knows the issues that are effecting Rhondda residents on a day-to-day basis. "People say the economy is going up which it is in places like London and South-East England but Rhondda hasn't seen any evidence of that. Stelco Hardy in Treherbert has closed, Chubb in Ferndale has closed plus another large business has closed in Maerdy - the problem is we haven't got the right infrastructure. Plaid has been campaigning for years regarding the Treorchy & Gelli by-pass and we also want the extension of the Porth & Rhondda Fach road (part two). Only last week there was an announcement from the Welsh Assembly that for the next 15 years those schemes are not on the books. Chris Bryant promised in his last manifesto that he'd fight for the new roads and now it wouldn't even be considered for at least the next 15 years. That's why we are losing all these businesses.

Also, in the Rhondda we have a huge population of pensioners and when I was in RCT I did a lot with the pensioner groups in the valley so I'm aware of their problems. You've got the post offices closing which effects pensioners. I know they get a free bus pass but in some places in Rhondda you only see a bus twice a day!

Heath - Our waiting lists are appalling and to see a G.P. you have to wait weeks. If I make an appointment with my local doctor I have to wait at least two weeks for an appointment - in that time I'd either be dead or I've cured myself. Waiting lists in Rhondda are double that of the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff. I think Rhondda and Blaenau Gwent are the worst places for getting a GP appointment."

But what would he do if he felt that Plaid Cymru was supporting an issue that he didn't agree with. "I am representing the party but more importantly I'm representing the people of the Rhondda. Saying that, at the moment there is not one single policy in Plaid Cymru that I disagree with. If there was an issue that I didn't agree with then I would discuss it with the party and if they didn't agree then I would vote against it."

"Coming from the Rhondda I feel passionate about the place. The majority of my family are from Rhondda. I've lived here all my life and we know the problems that face us. I think that the best people who can understand the area are people who have lived here."

"I'll be leading the campaign with faithful Plaid supporters to go out and win at the election. It can be done. I've had a lot of experience in local government - I began at the age of 23. I am looking forward to the challenge and the hard work and will always put the Rhondda people first."

Click here to listen to Percy Jones.

STATEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF LAYTON PERCY JONES.

Layton 'Percy' Jones is currently Assistant Chief Executive of Cardiff Action for Single Homeless, where he has worked for the past 12 years. He has also been a Youth & Community worker in Treherbert, Percy has been active in Plaid Cymru since the early 90's and has held the following posts:

- Chair of Treherbert Branch, 1990 - 1993
- Chair of Rhondda Constituency, 1995 - 2000 & 2004 - present
- Elected to Rhondda Borough Council in 1993 at the age of 23
- Former Treasurer of Youth & Student Federation
- Election agent for the 1997 General Election
- Campaign Manager for the historic 1999 Assembly and Local Government elections
- Elected to Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC, 1999 - 2004 & Cabinet Member for Better Health for that period
- Member of Plaid Cymru National Executive, 2001 - 2002

QUOTES FROM PLAID CYMRU MEMBERS

"At a time when people have lost faith in spin doctor style politicians, Percy is like a breath of fresh air. His greatest strength is his ability to communicate with people. His work as a Cabinet Member on Rhondda Cynon Taff made a real difference to the quality of life of Rhondda people - a cause he is passionate about."
JILL EVANS, MEP.

"I am delighted to endorse Percy as our UK Parliament candidate. Locally I have seen his diligent work as a councillor and Cabinet Member bear fruit over the years in major improvements for our community. Percy is a man full of energy and with the personality to lead us in the General Election, which will be the start of the big fight back for Plaid Cymru."
GERAINT DAVIES (Rhondda's first Assembly Member).

"Percy is the authentic voice of his community and his generation. He has the commitment, the energy and the enthusiasm to challenge new Labour's growing complacency. With people tired of New Labour's spin, Percy is a candidate that can connect with the ordinary, and extraordinary people of the Rhondda."
ADAM PRICE, MP.

"Percy has worked hard for Plaid Cymru in the Rhondda over the last 15 years. He is well-known and down to earth and has the ability to communicate with people on all levels. As our candidate for MP he will stand in stark contrast to Chris Bryant's slick sycophantic London persona. I urge people to support Percy as our parliamentary candidate."
LEANNE WOOD, AM.