OFFERING HOPE

At the end of the day it may come down to offering hope over fear. Disillusioned voters who have been let down after lending their votes to the Liberal Democrats at the last election, should back Plaid Cymru this time in the knowledge that the Party of Wales will always do what’s in the best interests of their communities. Leanne Wood said that people are rightly angry by the way the Liberal Democrats have let them down and said that Plaid Cymru’s vision chimes with many of their values.

Leanne Wood, the Party of Wales leader said:

“I know that many placed their faith in parties that did not keep their promises. People are still, rightfully angry, by the events of five years ago.

“There will be in all likelihood a hung parliament again this week. And to those who were disappointed by the outcome five years ago, I ask you not to despair but to consider which party, which candidate you can trust to do right for your community, for Wales, and on the issues that matter to you.”

She said:

“We are committed to social justice, to ending austerity, to closing the gap between richest and poorest, keeping public services in public hands, committed to free education for all.

“And to ending the Bedroom Tax introduced by the Tory-Lib Dem government.

“Plaid Cymru takes our obligations to the environment seriously.”

She concluded:

“We are an internationalist party, believing global cooperation can benefit all.

“That’s why we’ll fight hard to keep Wales in the European Union and why we want to see our country a promoter of conflict resolution and peace.

“And Plaid Cymru MPs will be the only ones from Wales who will never, ever support a new generation of nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

“The Party of Wales is part of a progressive alliance that has challenged the very foundations of the Westminster system.”

GDP FIGURES SHOW AUSTERITY HAS FAILED

The latest GDP figures show the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition government’s austerity experiment has failed. Plaid Cymru's plans for modest growth in departmental spending of 0.5 per cent in addition to an increase in infrastructure spend would lead to a balanced economy and healthier public finances.

Leanne Wood AM/AC Party of Wales leader said:

“The latest GDP figures reflect the fact that the economy has been choked by the austerity experiment. This has been the slowest post-recession recovery in living memory resulting in an imbalanced economy and missed fiscal targets.

"The UK is the only major economy where the gap between rich and poor is widening. The poorest ten per cent have borne the brunt for harsh cuts. Wages in parts of Wales are ten times lower per head than parts of inner London and people are stuck in under-employment and zero hours contracts.

"Austerity is a choice. We cannot have healthy public finances without first securing a balanced economy. That is why Plaid Cymru advocates breathing space for businesses and communities. Modestly increasing government investment in services and improving infrastructure would provide the basis for a balanced economy and job opportunities across the UK.

"For every pound spent on infrastructure, a further three pounds of activity is generated in the economy. For every percentage increase in GDP, around £700 million is added to the tax take.

"Bringing down the deficit through investment is the only responsible approach. People in Wales have the option of rejecting further counter-productive cuts and backing investment with Plaid Cymru at this election. It's time for a humane economic policy that protects our treasured public services and delivers a climate for businesses to flourish."

AN ALTERNATIVE TO AUSTERITY

Despite all the spin and the waffle it is not difficult to come to the conclusion that 'Austerity' has failed, failed the people of Wales, failed the people of Scotland and failed the people of England. To repeat the same error by voting for any of the three austerity supporting Westminster based and Westminster focused political parties would be a mistake. 

On May 7th 2015 there is a readily available alternative other than more of the same. In Wales the alternative to austerity is Plaid Cymru, in England it's the Greens, and in Scotland the SNP. All three parties can deliver a meaningful alternative agenda to austerity. Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens are separate, distinct parties with their own objectives and policies.  All three parties do, however, co-operate as a single Group in the House of Commons. 

Plaid Cymru and the Greens also have a strong and effective relationship in Brussels, with both parties working together in the Greens/European Free Alliance group. On key issues such as austerity, Trident, and moving political power away from Westminster, the three parties share a common approach; and on environmental issues there is much common ground. In the forthcoming election, the three parties offer an alternative agenda to the stale, failed policies of the Tories, Labour and Lib Dem alike.