Wigley: “Who do YOU want in Westminster to fight Wales’ corner come Friday?”

Only Plaid will protect our interests in hung parliament

“Plaid will go up to Westminster to fight for the future of our jobs, hospitals and schools”, says Plaid Cymru Honorary President Dafydd Wigley.

At a campaign event in Aberconwy yesterday, Mr Wigley said that the cuts planned by the 3 London parties would be disastrous for the Welsh economy and that none of them would give a second thought to the needs of Wales during negotiations in a balanced parliament.

Mr Wigley added that Plaid Cymru is the only party that would focus 100% on the needs of Welsh communities during negotiations – the only party that will fight for our interests. He said that Tory, Labour or Lib Dem MPs returned on Thursday would be told to tow their party line and ignore the needs of their communities.

Plaid Cymru Honorary President Dafydd Wigley said:

"Never before have we faced such a fight to ensure the future of jobs and services in Wales. Labour has already announced around £3 billion worth of cuts to Wales over the next 3 years - the Tories propose to cut harder and deeper, and the Lib Dems are planning savage cuts.

“Be under no illusions - none of the 3 London parties will be giving a second thought to the needs of Wales in the event of a balanced parliament.

“The Conservative, as always, refuse to look after Wales, the Lib-Dems don’t know how to look after Wales and Labour are totally incapable of looking after Wales - they’re finished.

“There is only one team that can now be trusted to defend Wales’ interests around any negotiation table – a strong Plaid team will go up to Westminster to fight for the future of our jobs, our hospitals and schools.

“Come Thursday, we have the opportunity to give our communities real local champions, ready to go up to Westminster to protect our communities and defend our country from disproportionate London cuts – It’s time to put Wales first.”

More Nats = Less Cuts.....Plaid and SNP unveil ‘4 Wales 4 Scotland’

The leaders of the SNP and Plaid Cymru, Alex Salmond MSP and Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, today unveiled '4 Wales, 4 Scotland' - the SNP and Plaid Cymru's joint agreement to secure a better deal for the people of Scotland and Wales in the event of a hung parliament.

Deputy First Minister of Wales Mr Jones and Scotland’s First Minister Mr Salmond were joined at the press conference by SNP and Plaid Cymru group leaders at Westminster, Angus Robertson MP and Elfyn Llwyd MP.

The key elements of the four part programme will be:

1. Fair funding for Wales and Scotland


2. Protecting local services and the most vulnerable


3. Action to help the green economy


4. Support for business growth

Mr Salmond and Mr Jones signed a large scale copy of the agreement at the press conference.

Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said:

"In their race for the keys to Number 10, the London Parties have forgotten about what really matters to voters in Scotland and Wales but the SNP and Plaid Cymru have not.

“With the prospect of a balanced parliament becoming more likely by the day, we believe that an election that gives no single party an overall majority would be the best possible outcome for our nations.

“A Celtic alliance of Plaid and SNP MPs would be in a position to negotiate real benefits for the people of Wales and Scotland.

“The greater the vote for Plaid and the SNP – the better the deal for Wales and Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference.

“We would demand fairer funding for Wales and Scotland to protect jobs, our schools, our hospitals and the most vulnerable in society.

"At the heart of our platform there would also need to be a real commitment to grow our economies through fast transport links and additional support to create thousands of high-quality jobs in the green and creative industry sectors.”

SNP Leader Alex Salmond said:

"With the real possibility of a balanced parliament at Westminster, the situation is redolent with real opportunity for Scotland and Wales.

"Both Labour and the Tories are threatening deep, harsh cuts which will endanger the Scottish and Welsh recoveries.

"Chancellor Alistair Darling has already admitted that the cuts planned by the Labour Government will be "harsher and deeper" than those inflicted by Margaret Thatcher.

"Only a strong bloc of SNP and Plaid MPs, using our votes and influence to win vital concessions, can protect Scotland and Wales.

"As it currently stands, the UK Government can and does slash the Scottish and Welsh budgets with impunity. The Barnett formula has let Scotland and Wales down. That's why in Scotland we need fiscal autonomy and Wales requires a fairer funding deal.

"The cuts proposed by the London parties are a real threat to Scottish and Welsh schools, hospitals and front line services. This must change.

"Working together, SNP and Plaid MPs will champion fairer funding and guarantee provision of public services which are vital to most vulnerable in our communities."