AN empowering message of hope was met with roars of appreciation as political parties put their differences aside in Haverfordwest today (Saturday).

Journalist and political commentator Owen Jones headed up an anti-Tory rally on Castle Square that saw voters unite against their common enemy.

Mr Jones, who spent time door-knocking with local campaigners before his speech, told the Western Telegraph: "This visit has been really inspiring, this is a grass roots movement, and that is how we will get change.

"We can take this on if we get the message out to people.

"Preseli-Pembrokeshire came so close last time, and we've heard from people on the doorsteps that next time they will vote for change.

"The Tories are on the run, and together we are going to build a different Wales and a different Britain."

Mr Jones said current constituency MP Stephen Crabb's time was over, and slammed the Conservative Government for its treatment of working people, struggling families, and those with disabilities.

He pledged that a Labour government would bring in a living wage, abolish in-work poverty, build affordable housing, scrap tuition fees, and bring energy, water and rail back under public ownership.

"They are ours and we're going to take them back," he said.

He said these ideas for change - shared by Labour, the Greens and other opposition groups - were "not extreme or radical, just common sense".

The 200 or so gathered also heard from Wales Green Party leader Grenville Ham, Labour AM Eluned Morgan, anti-bedroom tax campaigner Paul Rutherford and Pembrokeshire's People's Assembly founder Jim Scott, among many others.

In a message to Mr Crabb, Mr Scott said: "Stephen, you have had your time, there is no place left for you in the political sphere.

"Your party has been exposed for what it is and Pembrokeshire deserves so much better."

He also thanked Mr Crabb for "motivating a lot of people to get active and fight back".

The fantastic @OwenJones84 speaking at the first rally since 1908 in Castle Sq Haverfordwest Preseli Wales #GetCrabbOut pic.twitter.com/a2CfZwSAJM — ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) October 14, 2017

Earlier in the day, protesters took an enormous #CrabbMustGo banner on a tour of Haverfordwest.

Tonight, a comedy gig will also take place at Pembrokeshire College's Merlin Theatre, organised by Pembrokeshire's People's Assembly.