Construction’s candidate: David Darkin

Name: David Darkin, Labour Party prospective parliamentary candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

Construction CV: First job as construction labourer at 16. Now qualified architect running his own practice, Darkin Architects. Vice-chair and treasurer of the Royal Society of Architects in Wales.

What can your party offer the construction industry?

The Labour Party is committed to tackling the shortfall in housing provision. A Labour government will ensure that more council and housing association homes are built. Furthermore, Labour would not increase VAT, as such a rise would put increased pressures on the cash flows of small scale developers, contractors and subcontractors. These smaller companies are the back-bone of our industry.

Why is construction important in your constituency?

I’ve been knocking on doors to talk to local residents and issues of infrastructure, construction and development are prevalent across the constituency. In Llandeilo, residents are asking questions of the proposed bypass; in Ferryside, one resident told me that all her children had moved away due to the lack of affordable housing. It’s vital that we have a strong voice in Westminster to ensure that we attract investment and secure the infrastructure we need.

How will your party ensure a “good” Brexit?

The Welsh Labour government has already produced a comprehensive, credible blue print for a Brexit that would work for Wales and the UK as a whole. Labour’s plan for Britain after Brexit would be to rebuild the economy by investing in infrastructure, skills, new technology and green industries.