Welsh Conservatives are in their most ambitious approach yet to the Assembly elections, Nick Bourne, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly, said today.
Speaking ahead of the Conservative Party conference, Nick Bourne said that his Party has matured considerably during devolution’s first decade and is committed to making the next stage of the National Assembly’s development deliver for the people of Wales.
Mr Bourne, who represents Mid & West Wales, believes the next seven months and the following Assembly term are a critical period for the Welsh Conservative Party, as it prepares a policy programme that is fit for government.
Nick Bourne said, “Welsh Conservatives approach this year’s conference with renewed optimism in the Party’s fortunes.
“We remain the only party in Wales which has increased its vote share and representation at every election since 2001. In 2010 we won five additional Welsh seats, sending eight MPs to fight for Welsh interests at Westminster, re-establishing ourselves as the main challengers to Labour in Wales.
“Our Party has changed considerably over recent years. We have worked hard to make the Assembly work in the best interests of the Welsh people. We have a distinctive and strong Welsh identity, have reaffirmed our longstanding commitment to the Welsh language, are committed to growing the Welsh economy and believe in the defence of Wales’ beautiful landscape.
“We are in the process of developing a wide range of progressive policies to offer to the people of Wales at next year’s elections. It is a programme for government, which prioritises key public service improvements, offers much needed support to small businesses and makes a clear pledge to making Welsh society greener.
“We have already announced fully-costed policy commitments to improve funding for stroke services and hospices, to introduce a new business rate relief scheme for small businesses and to improve access to insulation for all homes to enable Wales to become greener and to help households reduce their energy bills.
“In the Assembly, I lead a party that is ambitious, inclusive and immensely proud of the diversity of Wales. This has attracted new members and supporters to the Welsh Conservatives from those who previously supported parties across the political spectrum. In the past year Dr John Marek, former Labour MP and AM and Mohammad Asghar AM, from Plaid Cymru, joined our progressive Welsh Conservative team.
“We have recently taken positive steps to select a greater number of talented women candidates in winnable positions, helping our Party to broaden its representation.
“Welsh Conservatives look forward to working closely with David Cameron and the new coalition government to seek the best possible deal for Wales from Westminster.
“I have been impressed by the co-operative and consensual manner which our new Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan has taken to relations with the Assembly Government and AMs of all political parties.
“The Coalition Government at Westminster is working well. Putting party differences and ideological divisions to one side and working in the national interest is to be welcomed. Regrettably the Labour-Plaid coalition in the Assembly has defined itself by ideological dogma rather than serving the national interests of Wales.
“Their attitude to the running of public services focuses on state control and interference from government. By contrast we believe in freeing teachers, nurses, doctors and other public servants from political meddling and the target culture so they can set their own priorities. In the health service, nurses and doctors are best placed to set clinical priorities for their patients, rather than bureaucrats in Cardiff.
“In education we believe that schools should have greater control over their own budgets as teachers and parents understand the needs of pupils better than a Minister in Cardiff trying to micromanage the entire education system.
“Our belief that Welsh society should place its trust in people, not the state, applies not just to the delivery of frontline services. We want to let people take greater responsibility for reducing their carbon footprint by making it much easier for families to insulate their homes. We want to help people do more to protect their villages and communities from the risk of flooding.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Welsh economy. We want to do more to help them through tough economic times by slashing business rates to encourage growth and entrepreneurship, particularly amongst the young.
“We are committed to making Wales a fully bilingual nation. Welsh Conservatives are proud of the contribution the Welsh language makes to the culture and heritage of Wales and we have a strong desire to strengthen it.
“I am proud of the team I lead in the Assembly, which is widely seen as the hardworking group in Cardiff Bay. My team works hard to fairly and effectively represent the views of their constituents.
“Welsh Conservatives are excited about the opportunities to transform Wales for the better. Our hardworking candidates, my team in the Assembly, and I are all enthusiastic about the prospects for these forthcoming elections and the opportunity to make Wales a greener, healthier and more prosperous nation.”
