PENARTH'S prospective Conservative candidate for next year's National Assembly elections is demanding that frontline politics change.

Dianne Rees believes there should be more women at the top because they know what they are talking about when it comes to making decisions.

Currently, there are no female Conservative AMs.

Dianne, of Old St Mellons, has previously stood in Cardiff council elections and said: "There must be women from the Conservative party in the Assembly.

"We have got nine members doing a good job ensuring money is properly spent, but it can't be right that we don't have a single Conservative woman in the Assembly.

"The electorate trust women. Women take people to hospital and it's women who go to the school and see what's happening there.

"I feel women need to be properly represented, in the council, in the Assembly and at Westminster. Fifty-one percent of the population is female and we are under-represented in all political parties, particularly in the Conservative party - despite us having the first British female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher.

"She was elected PM in 1979. I wonder how much progress we've made in selection and election of women since that day."

Former teacher Dianne, who is a magistrate at Cardiff, said: "We've got some formidable women but we need to get them elected and interested in health, education and law and order.

"Young women with lots of ideas need to get involved in the Conservative party so they can make an impact. If you can get people to see politics as something they can do something about, that's the answer."

Dianne, who joined the Conservative party in 1991, said: "I don't come from a traditional Tory background, but I've always been interested in politics. I didn't become active until my children had grown up. Women are very busy raising their families."

So what is Dianne's take on the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency?

She said: "Cardiff South and Penarth has a very good record for selecting women. They like women candidates. A woman's approach is gentler, women are safer, but women can be very strong when they need to be.

"I'd like to see Penarth continue as a very nice town. I believe the Vale Council is doing a very good job of looking after the town.

"I'd like to see businesses develop. I've noticed the high population of charity shops. I'm very much in favour of charity, but I'd like to see businesses supported as I believe local shops are very important to community life - supplying services that people need."

She added: "There should be business relief to keep shops in the town centre. Out-of-town shopping centres force local people to get in cars, causing congestion on the roads. These centres are not much use for those who can't drive. It's going against the idea of a sustainable area. It's vitally important to keep local business in the town centre."

Dianne is currently running a campaign in the constituency to back the post office.

She said: "There are seven post offices and sub post offices in Penarth. If you compare this to some of the more deprived areas, there are far fewer post offices in Penarth."

What can Dianne offer?

She said: "I'm sympathetic to people who work in health and education. The last thing they need is interfering politicians. They need stability and the freedom to get on with the work they know best how to do. Politicians are there to plan, to set goals and to check public money is being spent properly.

"We've to got to have a caring society which looks after those who are genuinely in need."

Dianne says she is also in touch with agriculture and animal issues: "Farmers know best how to maintain the country and they should be supported. They've had a difficult time." She also discussed foxhunting, firmly opposed by Cardiff South and Penarth's current Labour AM, Lorraine Barrett.

Dianne said: "I'm an urban Tory though I live on the fringe, and I believe farmers can best deal with the control of foxes.

"I would not vote to ban foxhunting because I believe human beings are far more important than foxes. A lot of people's livelihoods rely on foxhunting. I love animals but I love people more.

"For most people, it's not a real issue. We've seen an explosion of street crime with a 20 percent rise over the whole country, some areas with 75 percent."

That was a more important issue for government to deal with than hunting.