Plaid look to capitalise on Blair’s record
Plaid Cymru are attempting to capitalise on Tony Blair’s faltering popularity as the Labour leader marks ten years in Number Ten.
The Welsh nationalist party have unveiled a new poster campaign urging voters to “give him the send off he deserves”.
Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has been criticising Labour’s record in Westminster and warning voters Welsh Labour have adopted the “worst aspects of Labour in London” and are no longer “fit to govern”.
“The 10th anniversary of New Labour assuming power provides a fitting chance to remind the people of Wales that they have the opportunity on Thursday to make a difference,” he said.
Mr Jones pledged to use the assembly’s powers to their fullest extent and introduce: a patients’ rights contract; new Welsh language legislation; an energy efficiency scheme with targets; grants for first time buyers; extension of child care provision; new housing legislation to extend social housing powers; extension of compulsory education or training to the age of 18; mental health legislation for Wales; single transferable votes for local government; and legalisation to protect the Welsh coastal environment.
With less than 48 hours of campaigning left, Plaid’s latest push follows cross party attacks on their economic plans, described as “sci-fi” by Labour, while the Liberal Democrats accused them of living on “planet Plaid”.
The latest opinion polls suggest Plaid could emerge with the second largest share of the vote on Thursday, while support for Labour is tipped to fall. Yesterday, Mr Jones told Labour’s Rhodri Morgan he may need to seek the nationalists out for a coalition government if he wants to remain as first minister.
As the campaign draws to close, both Labour and the Conservatives are canvassing in north Wales, keen to dispel attacks that they are the party of southern Wales. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems are content to sure up votes along the heavily populated M4 corridor.
