Lib Dems slam Labour’s ‘cheeky’ Welsh claims
Labour’s rivals have attacked its claims that the ‘average’ Welsh family is £5,000 better off under a Labour-led assembly.
Jenny Willot, chair of the Liberal Democrats’ Welsh election campaign, said Labour had a “cheek” to claim the credit for their devolution dividend, as the money-saving initiatives did not stem from their party.
Free bus passes were a partnership agreement, she said, free museum entry was introduced by a Liberal Democrat minister, baby bonds were driven by Westminster, and Welsh labour only opposed Tony Blair’s ‘top-up’ fees after the other parties forced them to.
Ms Willot continued: “Alongside the obvious benefits of devolution, people should consider the Labour let-downs: the broken promise on home care for disabled people; the failure to tackle the crisis in NHS dentistry, the U-turn on smaller class sizes.
“Devolution has enormous potential for Wales – what a shame Labour’s ambition-lite programme for government has failed to fulfil that potential.”
The Conservatives also attacked Labour’s claims, claiming the “devolution dividend flies in the face of reality.”
The Tory’s assembly leader Nick Bourne countered that Wales has become the poorest part of the UK, claiming unemployment in Wales increased by 30 per cent over the last assembly term.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have been fighting their own election campaign today on fly-tipping, calling for tougher penalties for those caught illegally dumping waste. As part of their green credentials, the Tories also want to increase domestic waste recycling by 40 per cent by 2011, reduce landfill dumping and consider alternatives to waste disposal.
However, the Liberal Democrats have told voters only they will put Wales at the forefront of the green revolution.
Leader Lembit Opik claimed climate change is the “most significant threat we face” and only the Welsh Lib Dems area committed to doing something.
“Labour’s record in government is nothing to write home about. The Conservatives have failed to find any policies to back up their green rhetoric, and Plaid’s dodgy costings and thin manifesto are unfit for government,” Mr Opik said.
The Lib Dems have set targets for all electricity to come from renewable sources by 2050 and 60 per cent of domestic waste to be recycled.
Meanwhile, as the national Labour party launches a new campaign to regain credibility in the health service, Welsh Labour have been promising free car parking at NHS hospitals for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and renal dialysis patients.
Health minister Brian Gibbons said: “Labour is and always has been the party of the NHS.
“Our election commitments include promising a maximum 26 weeks NHS waiting time from referral to treatment but we also want to make it easier for patients to make the trip to hospital and make phone and TV services cheaper so they can recover from treatment without worrying about so many extra costs.”
