Lib Dems say Wales can do better

Kirsty Williams says the election should be a “proper conversation”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will say Wales can “do better” when they publish their assembly election manifesto.

Party leader Kirsty Williams will promise a “radical” manifesto with “positive” ideas.

She will say the poll on 5 May is voters’ last chance to set Wales’ direction until the next assembly election in 2016.

The Lib Dems have held six seats at each of the first three assembly elections.

Opinion polls suggest support for the party has slipped since the last election in 2007.

The Welsh Lib Dems have said they will fight the election on the economy.

They face attacks from Labour and Plaid Cymru over the actions of the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition UK government.

But Ms Williams will say voters deserve a “proper conversation” about the way forward for Wales when she unveils the manifesto on Wednesday.

At the launch in Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Ms Williams will say: “This election is the chance for the people of Wales to set the direction of the Welsh government until 2016.

“My children are at primary school. By the time we next debate these issues at a Welsh election, by the time we next decide the direction of schooling in Wales, they will be approaching their GCSEs.

“For them and for thousands of other children, this will be their chance.”

She added: “This election is too important to allow the Labour Party to ignore Welsh issues.

“Labour and Plaid have left us with a weak economy, underfunded schools and an NHS that costs more but delivers less.

“The Welsh people deserve a proper conversation about how we in Wales address these issues.

“No more excuses. The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe that Wales can do better.”

Lib Dem pledges include the offer of grants worth £2,000 for businesses to train staff if they provide jobs to unemployed young people.

The party says it would tackle a “spending gap” between schools in England and Wales, targeting money at the 80,000 pupils who need it the most.

It says it would improve healthcare by cutting waste from the NHS.

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