Scargill to stand for Welsh Assembly

Mr Scargill said he is looking forward to campaigning

Former miners' union leader Arthur Scargill has announced he will stand at the Welsh Assembly elections this spring.

Mr Scargill will stand for the Socialist Labour Party in the South Wales East list seat, one of 20 top-up seats.

The goal is a seat in the assembly chamber

He announced his candidacy during a public meeting at Blackwood Miners Institute on Tuesday evening, during a speech against war on Iraq and in support of the firefighters' strike.

Mr Scargill told BBC News Online that he felt it was important to stand in Wales, where he intends to campaign on issues including jobs, education, housing and the National Health Service.

The former president of the National Union of Mineworkers, who led the 1984 miners strike, said he would focus on a strong platform of Welsh issues that were relevant to people.

Arthur Scargill - Why stand in Wales?

The Socialist Labour Party invited him to become a candidate

He was selected at a regional level

He wants to see a full parliament for Wales

He launched an attack on the Welsh Assembly Government's support for private finance initiatives (PFIs) in Wales and he criticised Tony Blair's government for failing to tackle hospital patient waiting lists.

Mr Scargill also claimed that 28.7% of the population who were eligible to work in Wales were not in employment and he said he wanted to see such a situation "eradicated".

He also spoke of the "slaughter" of manufacturing industries in Wales.

"In 1997, I told the people of Wales this government would close the steelworks at Llanwern and Port Talbot."

Mr Scargill said the Socialist Labour Party, which is fielding candidates at seats across south Wales, would fight for every single vote.

Conviction: He wants to fight for working class people

"The attitude will be that we will want to see as many votes cast as possible for the Socialist Labour Party.

"Our policies are simple - we want to put over a message of socialism."

He added: "It would be foolish of anyone to say what is achieveable. Our party has the right policies for the people of Wales and it is one at variance from every other party in Wales."

Chris Herriott, who is standing at the election in the first-past-the post seat for Ogmore and list seat for South Wales West, said the party would target people's second vote.

"In the elections, we will say you can vote with your heart and your head," said Mr Herriott. "That will be the line that we push."