Charles Kennedy & Rob Speht agree that council tax should be abolished.

Born in 1972 in Pontefract (West Ridings of Yorkshire) Rob Grew up with his mother, step father and sister Julia in a small yorkshire village called Hambleton about 20 miles from York. It is an area not unlike Swansea with a mixture of rural areas and coal mining communities badly affected by the rapidly decling industry. His father and step-mother lived in Leeds - a large-ish City struggling in the 80's to solve many of the knock-on problems caused by the collapse of the industrial sector.

He first moved to Swansea in 1991 to study at the University, and has lived here, on and off ever since. He started studying a Bachelor degree in Physics but soon found that his passion lay with engineering, especially with Renewable Energy sources such as wind power, solar power, hydro etc.

So, in 1993 he changed to a degree in Mechanical Engineering with German and spent a year at the Technical University in Mannheim in 1996 where he learned to speak German. At university he enjoyed being part of many clubs including the Debates Society, cycling and walking around Swansea.

In 1997 he moved to Loughborough University to Study an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems where he specialised in Wind Power and Water Power.

Immediately after finishing his studies in 1998 he moved back to Swansea and started working at Sustainable Energy Ltd based in the Enterprise Park in Swansea where he worked as a Senior Project Manager. Robert was Director of a renewable energy company - EnergyTech Ltd from 2000 - 2007. He has lived in a number of areas of Swansea over the last decade, and twice in Plasmarl in the Ward of Landore and constituency of Swansea East. He presently lives on St Helens Avenue.

Swansea & Gower Lib Dems

He joined the Swansea & Gower Liberal Democrats in 1991 as a student member and has been interested in politics ever since. He stood as a candidate for the Lib Dems for the County Council Elections in 1995 for Castle Ward and again in 1999 for Landore Ward. He stood in the 2001 By-election in Swansea East and the 2001 General Election for Swansea East.

In June 2004 Rob was elected as County Councillor for the Landore Ward in Swansea East. He was also Parliamentary Candidate for Swansea East for the 2005 General Election.

As a long standing resident of Swansea he has a very good understanding of local strengths and problems – areas that need promoting and sorting out both locally and at a Westminster level. He is also very aware of the potential that Swansea has to develop in terms of community and economy.

Relevant Policies

The swansea East seat hold large potential for the Liberal Democrat, As there are many Lib Dem policies that will strike a chord with voters. As MP for Swansea East, he would seek to promote policies that are especially relevant to the area as well as Lib Dem policies that are matters of principle. The key issues for are

• Education and Training, for the young and for ‘life-long’ learning for all is essential if we are going to raise levels of employment and living standards.
• National Health Service as a matter of priority. More money & a better service are only part of the solution, a change of approach is needed to PREVENT illness.
• Integrated Transport policy for Swansea within a South Wales network to enable job creation and community re-building is desperately needed. Rob Speht's Trams 4 Swansea campaign.
• Communities need fostering and re-vitalising. Retention and re-opening of local Post Offices and other local services including local internet access.
• Environmental issues need highlighting and sustainability needs promoting. More local recycling is needed to help cut the £1 Million per year waste bill that we have in Swansea.
• Digital divide, everyone should have access to computers and the internet regardless of how old they are or where they live. Access to the internet will be very important in the 21^st Century.

	As an elected Councillor of the City & County of Swansea my declaration of interests can be found on Swansea Councils Website, click here

Printed and hosted by NetBop,Suite 11, Henley House, The Queensway, Fforestfach, Swansea. Published and promoted by Rob Speht on behalf of South Wales West Liberal Democrats, both at 78 St Helens Ave, Swansea.