by Our Newsdesk
COMMUNIST Party parliamentary candidate Rob Griffiths threw down the gauntlet to his Labour, Lib Dem and Tory rivals on Wednesday over cuts and tax avoidance by the rich.

In a well-attended hustings meeting for the Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney constituency, organised by Merthyr Trades Council, he said they were not serious about fighting tax evasion.

“Will they demand the closure of 28 tax havens around the world under British jurisdiction, where the British capitalist class stash much of their enormous wealth?” he asked.

The Communist Party leader challenged Labour candidate Gerald Jones specifically to say whether, if elected, he would support a wealth tax on the super-rich, public ownership of utilities and railways and the repeal of all anti-trade union laws.

But Mr Jones stuck doggedly to his official Labour Party script, condemning “Tory” cuts while making clear that an incoming Labour government would also have to take “tough decisions” to balance the books.

Ukip candidate David Rowlands happily defied his party’s manifesto to endorse many Communist Party policies, but drew a stinging rebuke from Mr Griffiths for blaming economic and social problems on immigration.

Green Party candidate Elspeth Parris recounted the harrowing impact of the bedroom tax locally to the large audience and pledged her party’s ongoing support for the campaign against austerity.

Commentators on a popular local blog after the debate credited the Communist, Independent and Green candidates with the best performances, with veteran independent councillor Julian Amos describing Mr Griffiths as “head and shoulders above them all.”

The Labour Party is defending a majority of 4,000.