Plaid says “it’s all about protecting the priorities of Wales”
Protecting public services, jobs and our most vulnerable people – Plaid is the only party in this election fighting for the priorities of the people of Wales. That’s the message from Plaid Cymru as the party launched its manifesto in Cardiff today.
With its emphasis on taking pensioners out of poverty and protecting jobs, schools and hospitals from the London parties’ cuts – Plaid believes that the manifesto reflects the conscience, values and priorities of the people of Wales.
At the launch of Plaid Cymru’s Manifesto, the party’s leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said that unlike the other parties, protecting the most vulnerable in society is the moral spur which drives the party’s vision for a stronger, more confident Wales.
Mr Jones said that Plaid will prioritise the needs of the families and communities of Wales above all else while the London parties pamper to the “haves” of so-called middle Britain, rather than the “have nots”.
Among Plaid’s election pledges is a promise to fight for a significant increase in the state pension in order to combat poverty amongst older people. The party is also calling for a Venture capital fund to be established in order to help start up businesses, boosting the Welsh economy.
In what will be a closely fought election with a hung parliament a real possibility, Plaid has never before been in such a strong position to negotiate the best possible deal for Wales. Plaid, with its partners the SNP in Scotland, will be pushing Wales to the top of the priority list in London.
Plaid’s Manifesto will focus on 7 key priority areas. They are:
- Protecting the Welsh Budget – including jobs, hospitals and schools – from the London parties’ slash and burn cuts
- Increasing the state pension to ensure that our older people have a pension upon which they can live
- Caring for our troops and veterans who have been shamefully neglected by this Government and bringing them home from Afghanistan
- Helping Welsh business grow by improving connectivity through broadband and high speed rail links as well as creating a Venture capital fund
- Creating a new environmental action plan to enable Wales to lead the way in the green revolution and create thousands of high-quality green jobs
- Having proper powers for our National Assembly to ensure that we in Wales have the tools to do the job and make an even greater difference to people’s everyday lives
- Tackling the deficit by stopping costly and unnecessary Government spending; closing tax loopholes and introducing more progressive taxation measures. Plaid also wants to see reform of the banks and for bonuses to be curbed immediately.
Plaid Cymru’s leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said:
“This election is being fought against the backdrop of the worst financial and economic crisis for over 60 years. Labour’s mismanagement of the economy and the Tories’ complicity in deregulating the banks will lead to the introduction of massive cuts in public spending. As a result, this election will be fought on the basis of the values and priorities which you bring to the process of addressing those cuts. In our case it is about protecting the vulnerable, particularly pensioners and children; about protecting those front line services on which we depend, schools and hospitals, and making sure that resources are targeted at protecting jobs and training.
“The London-based parties have already decided what’s important to them – the city, the banks, the votes of so-called Middle Britain. Contrast our values of looking after the vulnerable and protecting front line services with the priorities set out by Labour and the Tories who are still prepared, even in these difficult financial times to keep spending on Trident, nuclear weapons and ID cards.
“We have decided to make important, but carefully costed proposals in our manifesto, based around seven key policy areas. They all reflect Plaid’s values and priorities, and are aimed at protecting our communities in Wales from the worst impact of public spending cuts.”
