As the general election campaign enters the final phase BBC Wales News teams have taken to the road… literally.
Lugging a giant inflatable tent around the country to a range of constituencies across the four corners of Wales - we have decided to do our own roadshow and we’ll be visiting six key constituencies across Wales. Why are they key? Because they’re battlegrounds; identified by the political pundits as ‘ones to watch’ and packed-full of canvassers and volunteers all vying for your vote. There are other contenders, of course and we’ll be bringing you all the latest from Ynys Môn, Cardiff North, Llanelli, Brecon and Radnorshire and others as events unfold.
So as well as being buttonholed by politicians desperately wanting to get your vote you may also find yourself buttonholed by a BBC Wales journalist equally desperate to get your views on the general election.
Our programmes including Wales Today, Newyddion 9, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and our online and social media services in English and Welsh are all going to be on the tour and we want to know what you think, and what you want from your politicians.
What is on your mind? Does this election feel like a sea change in UK politics or do you feel untouched by the process?
This is your chance to get involved.
We have already been to Barry and Carmarthen. The next stop is Tregaron. Week two sees the tent turn up at Connah's Quay, Llandudno and finally Cardiff in time for the BBC One Wales leaders debate on Friday, May 1, at the Sherman Theatre. And while the tent makes its slow journey from one location to another, we’ll be taking the opportunity to feature other areas across Wales.
We are doing this because in one of the most unpredictable general elections in living memory, we think it's important that you - the voters - have all the information you need to make informed decisions and are given the chance to have your views heard.
And, if you can’t us on the tour, there’s plenty more campaign coverage to choose from, led by BBC Wales’s team of presenters and political experts, Dewi Llwyd, Bethan Rhys Roberts, Nick Servini, Aled ap Dafydd, Vaughan Roderick and David Cornock. Add in plenty of expert analysis from specialist correspondents from across Wales, including Steffan Messenger, putting younger voters at the heart of his reporting throughout the campaign.
Reporting and analysis of the campaign is underpinned by a comprehensive digital service, offering individual pages covering stories and candidate information from all of the Welsh constituencies.
A few election facts
- Turnout at the 2010 general election in Wales was around 64.7%, slightly lower than the UK-wide figure of 65.1%
- That was the first time in the post-war era that Wales had had a lower turnout than the UK as a whole
- Turnout generally is considerably lower than the peaks of the 1950s
- While the decision to vote is of course a personal one, our hope is that our election coverage will help you understand the issues
Tent facts
- Our election tent is 10m x 10m and is inflated by two cold air fan blowers
- It takes around an hour to lay out ready, then four minutes to fully inflate
- It needs 60 x 20kg ballast bags to keep it safely anchored
- We'll cover 457 miles as we take it around Wales
I hope you get the chance to visit the tent at one of the named locations and take the opportunity to get involved, I also hope you are able to listen, to watch or to read our coverage.
