With the General Election on July 4, what is the political mood in the new constituency of Caerfyrddin?

Caerfyrddin comprises more than 80% of the former Carmarthen East and Dinefwr seat; and 40% of what was Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire South.

Ten people answered questions from the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

1) Rank the following issues in order of importance: building more homes, better public transport, reducing net migration, more NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients, reducing cost of living pressures, listening to the needs of farmers more, action to tackle climate change including planting more trees, and growing the economy.

Kris Radar
Some buskers are better than others, and guitarist-singer Kris Radar fell under the first category judging by the appreciation that came his way at Carmarthen’s Guildhall Square - but what of the political mood music in the new constituency of Caerfyrddin, which stretches from Llandovery in the north-east to Laugharne in the south-west? (Pic supplied)

2) What motivates you the most and least when it comes to voting: voting for a particular party, voting for a particular candidate, what’s best for the constituency you live in, what’s best for the country, and what’s best for your own economic circumstances.

Bethan Bloomfield, 30, a trainee midwife from Carmarthen

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. Reducing cost of living pressures

2. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

3. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

4. Better public transport

5. Building more homes

6. Growing the economy

7. Listening to farmers’ needs more

8. Reducing net migration

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for the country

2. A particular candidate

3. A particular party

4. What’s best for the constituency

5. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

Bethan Bloomfield, 30, a trainee midwife from Carmarthen
Bethan Bloomfield, 30, a trainee midwife from Carmarthen (Pic supplied)

John Barrett, 80, retired builder from Tenby

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

2. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

3. Reducing net migration

4. Growing the economy

5. Reducing cost of living pressures

6. Listening to farmers’ needs more

7. Building more homes

8. Better public transport

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for the country

2. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

3. What’s best for the constituency

4. A particular party

5. A particular candidate

Rachel Davis, 60, of Kidwelly

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

2. Better public transport

3. Listening to farmers’ needs more

4. Growing the economy

5. Reducing net migration

6. Reducing cost of living pressures

7. Building more homes

8. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

2. What’s best for the country

3. What’s best for the constituency

4. A particular party

5. A particular candidate

Lewis John, 33, a property developer from Carmarthen

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

2. Growing the economy

3. Building more homes

4. Listening to farmers’ needs more

5. Reducing cost of living pressures

6. Better public transport

7. Reducing net migration

8. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for the country

2. What’s best for the constituency

3. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

4. A particular candidate

5. A particular party

Megan Cant, 22, owner of Baileys Dog Cafe, Hall Street, Carmarthen
Megan Cant, 22, owner of Baileys Dog Cafe, Hall Street, Carmarthen (Pic supplied)

Megan Cant, 22, owner of Baileys Dog Cafe

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

2. Reducing cost of living pressures

3. Building more homes

4. Growing the economy

5. Listening to farmers’ needs more

6. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

7. Reducing net migration

8. Better public transport

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

2. What’s best for the constituency

3. What’s best for the country

4. A particular candidate

5. A particular party

Bahram Ahmedi, 30, owner of King’s Barbers

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. Growing the economy

2. Building more homes

3. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

4. Reducing cost of living pressures

5. Listening to farmers’ needs more

6. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

7. Better public transport

8. Reducing net migration

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for the country

2. A particular candidate

3. What’s best for the constituency

4. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

5. A particular party

Jo White, 65, a volunteer at Climate Shop

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

2. Reducing cost of living pressures

3. Building more homes

4. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

5. Growing the economy

6. Better public transport

7. Listening to farmers’ needs more

8. Reducing net migration

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for the country

2. A particular party

3. What’s best for the constituency

4. A particular candidate

5. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

Bahram Ahmedi, 30, owner of King’s Barbers, King Street, Carmarthen
Bahram Ahmedi, 30, owner of King’s Barbers, King Street, Carmarthen (Pic supplied)

Teresa Jones, 75, a former nurse from Carmarthen

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. Listening to farmers’ needs more

2. Reducing cost of living pressures

3. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

4. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

5. Better public transport

6. Building more homes

7. Growing the economy

8. Reducing net migration

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for the constituency

2. What’s best for the country

3. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

4. A particular candidate

5. A particular party

Mark Taylor, 69, a solicitor from Newport, Pembrokeshire

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

2. Growing the economy

3. Listening to farmers’ needs more

4. Better public transport

5. Reducing cost of living pressures

6. Building more homes

7. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

8. Reducing net migration

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. A particular candidate

2. What’s best for the constituency

3. What’s best for the country

4. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

5. A particular party

Carmarthen
Carmarthenshire remains a stronghold for the Welsh language. A total of 40% of the population are Welsh speakers, according to the 2021 census – more than twice the national average – although it was 4% down from the census a decade earlier. (Pic supplied)

Heather Gatley, 67, former teacher who has moved from Ferryside to Oldham

Ranking of issues in order of importance:

1. More NHS appointments and better outcomes for patients

2. Action to tackle climate change including planting more trees

3. Listening to farmers’ needs more

4. Growing the economy

5. Reducing cost of living pressures

6. Better public transport

7. Building more homes

8. Reducing net migration

Ranking of motivations that drive you to vote the way you do:

1. What’s best for the country

2. What’s best for my own economic circumstances

3. A particular party

4. What’s best for the constituency

5. A particular candidate

Candidates running for Caerfyrddin are: Will Beasley (Green Party), Nick Beckett (Lib Dem), Nancy Cole (Women’s Equality Party), Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru), David Mark Evans (Workers Party of Britain), Simon Hart (Conservative), Bernard Holton (Reform UK), Martha Angharad O’Neil (Labour).