Owen Smith wears a coat of many colours

YOUR excellent article on Owen Smith, MP (“Decisions, positions and dramas give us an insight into the nation’s aspiring PM”, Western Mail, July 20) gives a flavour of Mr Smith’s previous positions.

Other issues, including his involvement with his “pie-in-thesky” concept for Pontypridd RFC to become a fifth Welsh rugby region, should also be addressed.

He was recently a critic of the Celtic Manor Resort. Without any industry experience, he felt qualified to advise this business on wage rates, training and opportunities for young people joining this well-established Welsh company. Afterwards he was encouraged to contact the FSB Wales, in order to gain understanding of hospitality. There was no contact.

A more recent quote of his, in the past week, was “the problems facing Londoners are in the front of my mind”. I’m certain this position is currently honest.

Where do Pontypridd and Wales now feature in his mind? For example, Labour’s main business backers, The Co-operative, closed its Pontypridd store last year, followed by Marks & Spencer this year. What became of Mr Smith’s efforts for retention of these important stores? There was no outcome.

No doubt Mr Smith, a former BBC TV producer, is a smooth PR operator.

A Labour member, once employed by a pharmaceutical company, working towards further privatising of our NHS, you certainly need to be a chameleon. Clayton Jones Ynysybwl, Pontypridd