Vale of Glamorgan candidates for the 2021 election have given their diverse opinions on whether the May vote should be delayed.

A new law is being planned to make it possible to delay the Welsh Parliament election this year by up to six months.

Wales is under "stay at home" lockdown restrictions amid the emergence of a more transmissible new strain of COVID-19 and ministers want to ensure a "safe" Senedd election.

First Minister Mark Drakeford wants to "allow some flexibility" but said he remains "committed" to the 6 May polling date.

The plans have been opposed by the Welsh Conservatives.

Welsh Conservative candidate Matt Smith said: "Drakeford has embarked on a power grab, pushing back against Westminster and the devolutionary boundaries for political reasons.

"He wasn't Labour leader going into the last Senedd election in 2016.

"No one voted for his distancing of Wales from Westminster.

"The people of the Vale of Glamorgan and Wales must have their say when they were told they would - on 6th May 2021!"

Richard Grigg, Dinas Powys Community Councillor and Plaid Cymru candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan, is open to the prospect of delay.

"My stance is that it seems to me increasingly unlikely that the election will be able to go ahead in May.

"I can't see how you can have polling stations open in the beginning of May. It's purely on safety grounds for me and my personal opinion is that I don't think it can be done safely.

"My other thing is that campaigning is extremely difficult at the moment. I would love to be knocking on people's doors and speaking to people but I can't at the moment."

Welsh Liberal Democrats candidate Sally Stephenson says the election should only go ahead if it is safe.

"As Welsh Liberal Democrats we have already been clear that the option should always be there to postpone the elections, if the virus transmission levels deem it to be necessary to keep Wales safe.

"None of us has a crystal ball to predict the situation in our communities in May and the elections should only go ahead if it is deemed safe for everyone involved, which includes those casting and counting votes as well as candidates like myself who draw on the help and support of others to get out and speak to voters."

Gwlad/Welsh Independent Party candidate Karl-James Langford says he is against postponing the election date.

"We have the ability now, to hold elections virtually," said Mr Langford.

"We could on the other hand have postal elections, with an online security or telephone back up.

"The issues and members five years ago for the Senedd were against a totally different back drop. Brexit, little talk of independence, fewer political parties, and apathy.

"I personally think, and it would be Gwlad's view point, to NOT to defer the elections.

"The US presidential election, although I personally felt there was some corruption due to the technology, there was an end result, a change. And if we have to take that risk with new technology to see a change, so be it.

"We have to replace some of the Senedd members, not because I don't like them, but they want to retire, they need to be refreshed with new ideas.

"I do not agree with changing the Senedd date for elections."

Current MS Jane Hutt, Labour said: "I believe the election should go ahead as planned in May, if the public health situation means it is safe to do so.

"As a responsible government, we have discussed contingency plans with the other political parties in the event coronavirus cases remain very high and the virus poses a serious threat to public health."

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