Dear Constituent, 

First and foremost, I'm not in politics to benefit myself. I'm in it to represent the people, the people of my community, in this case Neath and Swansea East. You may be asking yourselves: Who is Dai Richards? Here is the answer....................

My history..............Dai Richards is Neath born, educated in Port Talbot (Tirmorfa, Blaen Baglan & Glanafan, always living in Neath, Port Talbot or Swansea. In 1891 all 4 sets of my great grandparents lived within a stone's throw of Neath Town Centre. These include William Henry Snow who at one time employed over 300 men in his Snow's building and construction company. My great great father Thomas Snow is credited with building Victoria Gardens in Neath. I have great pride in my family's contribution to the town of Neath but am saddened to see the town's demise through poor governance.

About myself............I am best known for my contribution to sport in the area; representing Wales in 6 sports; cyclo cross, triathlon, mountain biking, mountain running, duathlon and marathon kayaking. In 2000 I won the world quadrathlon championship (swimming, cycling, running & kayaking) in the veteran's category and the following year was named the Neath Port Talbot Sports Personality of the Year. In 2009 Inside Welsh Sport Magazine awarded me the title Wales' Fittest Man.

I have been a member of many clubs in the Neath & Swansea areas including Swansea & Neath Harriers, Swansea Wheelers, Swansea CC, Swansea Bay Orienteering Club, Neath and Swansea Leisure Centre squash clubs. I was awarded life membership of Celtic Tri (triathlon club), in recognition for my contribution to the sport of triathlon in the area. 

In 6 years, as chairman of the Neath & Swansea based Multisport Racing Club, I put into place a framework of support that built the club from 2 to 200 members to become the fastest and most successful club Wales had seen. Alongside of the club I created a feeder system for young athletes at the Neath Port Talbot College Triathlon Academy and at one time 75 per cent of age group champions in Wales were part of that system. 

Our company Rugby Relics Ltd is the leading supplier of Rugby Memorabilia worldwide and I've written a book on the origin of Rugby Union, "Understanding the Origin and Evolution of Sport, Volume 1 - Rugby Union". Predominantly its a book about the governance of sport which is not dissimilar to the governance of a country". 

As a member of the Territorial Army I served our nation with pride for nine years with the Royal Corps of Transport and Royal Regiment of Wales, both based in Swansea.

You will also probably have seen me on screen appearing in documentaries relating to rugby and working as an extra on film and TV, in productions such as Casualty, Sherlock, Wolf Hall, Decline and Fall and the locally filmed Pride. Acting is in the family, I am distantly related to the Wales' first Oscar winner, Ray Milland, the Neath born actor. 

My politics..........In the political arena, I have for the last 8 years been fighting for the safety of a resident's group as the chairman of Glynneath Residents Against Contamination. During this time I have become an expert in the deliberate failure of government and government enforcement agencies to follow the rules and protocol that they set for themselves. They openly break the moral guidelines that they set for themselves, these are called the Nolan Principles. Government at all levels in the United Kingdom is out of control and we, the people need to 'nip this in the bud' before our rich heritage and culture reach a point of no return.

My family has been placed in danger because of corrupt governance and with corruption in UK government growing I believe the safety of all our families will be compromised at sometime in the near future. With this in mind, I have joined Reform UK, the only party with a clear vision to repair our communities and our nation, our broken Neath, our broken Swansea, our broken Wales and our broken Britain.

My pedigree.............Having been successful in business for 46 years, active in sports governance and coaching for 45 years, served in the military for 9 years. Having studied government systems and strategies for 8 years I believe that we have the ability to effect change for the good in our society. I still have the energy and the passion to work for the benefit of the communities of Neath and Swansea East and I invite you, a constituent in Neath and Swansea East to join me.

Our problem..........There is not a lot of difference between the combative strategies used in sport, the military and governance. Our biggest problem is that the government is working against the people, not for the people and they don't follow the rules they set. They are also the referee or judge and if the rules don't suit them, then they change them to suit themselves. Britain is Broken and Reform UK is all about rebuilding Britain, creating order from the disorder and the shambles in which we now find our country. Let us, you and I, do this together. 

Our future........I want us to work together for our collective futures, if its only a vote you can give, then that's fine, please help in any way you can. I am a family man and I have strived to do the best for my children. I grew up in a council estate, the son good working class parents with good morals, I have inherited those morals.

I have 4 children, and they all have good jobs and all own their own homes, I know that doesn't sound much but in today's society our children are struggling to exist. Two of my children are published and respected scientists, and 3 out of the 4 have achieved international honours in sport, with one, born in Swansea a world champion in the sport of White Water Rafting.

Our legacy..........When my days are over, I want us to leave behind a better place for my grand children and their children. If we can do this together, it means a better future for your children and your ancestors too. Please join with me, by voting for Reform and/or joining with me on the Reform team for a better Neath & Swansea East, a better Wales and a better Britain. Let's save Britain together.

Yours sincerely  -  Dai Richards, your Reform UK candidate

www.dai-richards.wales