In the run-up to the upcoming 2021 Senedd Election, Nub News is profiling the candidates running for Cardiff South and Penarth.

Prior to the pandemic, independent candidate David Rolfe had never seriously contemplated entering the political realm.

Manager of Cardiff's Real Italian Pizza restaurant, David has been moved to run for the Senedd through gaining first-hand experience of the Welsh Government's COVID response.

"Obviously the hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors due to the virus," he tells Nub News.

"We're not alone on that, and we see the effect of what the government has done - the high street has been decimated."

David is not 'anti-lockdown'. Rather, he is critical of some specific decisions that have been made, particularly with regard to the firebreak.

"It was too late. They manipulated it in such a way that I didn't realise the virus only worked around the school holidays.

"If they went by their own SAGE advice, they should have started the firebreak six weeks before. They would have been in time. And not doing that has cost people's jobs.

"I've been okay by the furlough. I am grateful for the UK government finding the money. But so many other people are really struggling."

Child hunger, high street regeneration, the NHS and environmentalism are his main concerns.

He wants to see the number of children with access to free school meals doubled, the repurposing of empty high street units, the introduction of a business rates relief, and NHS Wales "run by someone who knows what they're doing".

With regard to green issues, he says: "We are the worst species on this planet. We are destroying it. We need to do better."

David describes himself as "a bit more Labour overall" before the pandemic.

"But I have been dealing with Mark Drakeford's management of the virus. I'm sure Vaughan Gething is a nice man, but when I speak to people they say he is the typical cardboard cutout politician. He says the right thing, but does nothing.

"I've listened to the Conservatives. They've got some good ideas. Everyone's got good ideas. What annoys me is that no one is prepared to help each other.

"The Conservatives are basically doing mate's rates. Labour have lost the working man - me. I do 60 hours a week to put food on my table. They're not making my life any easier.

"Plaid want a referendum. The people of Cardiff South and Penarth don't need any more uncertainty. They need help."

But does David think he can win?

"I would like to win. I haven't just put my hat in to annoy people.

"But I know that Labour is very strong, so if I can diminish Labour's authority and get more of a coalition into the government, then that is a better outcome.

"I work extremely hard in my own job, but I've been trying to get out into the communities to do this. Hospitality is not a 9-5 job and neither is politics. I have a drive. I don't see that from the other candidates."