Final push across Wales as election day looms

by bbc.co.uk - 05/05/2010

"Politicians across Wales are launching a hectic final day's campaigning in key seats before Thursday's election.

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The main parties are focusing on target seats as smaller parties and independents also try to win support.

Conservative leader David Cameron visits Montgomeryshire, and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain will travel around Wales by helicopter to rally Labour.

Welsh Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams will be in Wrexham, and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones visits Llanelli.

The parties are making their final effort after a month's campaigning in Wales' 40 constituencies.

YOUGOV OPINION POLL
Labour: 35% (+2 from 19 April)
Conservatives: 27% (+4)
Liberal Democrats: 23% (-6)
Plaid Cymru: 10% (+1)
Source: YouGov for ITV Wales. Sampling was carried out with 1,671 voters on 3 and 4 May.
It also comes the day after an opinion poll by YouGov for ITV Wales, with a sample total of 1,671 carried out on 3 and 4 May.

The poll suggested a decline in support for the Liberal Democrats in Wales since an equivalent poll on 19 April, although their rating of 29%, down 6%, was still higher than at the 2005 election.

The other three main parties all recorded gains since the last poll, and it suggested that the Conservatives have had the biggest rise.

The poll put Labour on 35%, up 2%, Conservatives on 27%, up 4%, and Plaid Cymru on 10%, up 1%.

'Real change'

Conservative shadow Welsh secretary Cheryl Gillan said the poll indicated "that Labour is heading for an election result in Wales worse than under Michael Foot in 1983.

"It shows that if the people of Wales want real change then there's only one vote that can make that happen.

"A vote for the Welsh Conservatives on Thursday will give people a new government on Friday that rolls up its sleeves and start to get our economy moving, fix our broken society, and clean up politics."

Labour said Mr Hain and First Minister Carwyn Jones would "race 400 miles around every corner of Wales with one clear message: Thursday is 'decision day' for Wales to stop a Tory government which would make savage and immediate cuts in jobs and public services".

They will start together in Newport before going their separate ways.

Mr Hain said: "The choice tomorrow is clear: the Tories will make cuts to the child trust funds and tax credits of families in Wales on middle and modest incomes. By cutting the Welsh budget they would threaten free prescriptions for all, and free bus travel for older people and free primary school breakfasts.

'Damage businesses'

"Thousands of jobs and vital public services and investment would go. We have only 24 hours to stop these savage Tory cuts which will torpedo Wales' recovery and damage businesses."

The leader of the Welsh Lib Dems Kirsty Wiliiams said she would be campaigning in Wrexham to help the local candidate become its next MP.

Ms Williams said Lib Dems "have seen a massive increase in their support over the last years as people have become fed up with the tired and failing Labour government".

The day before taking to the streets of Llanelli, Plaid's leader criticised what he called Conservative plans to slash corporation tax rates in Northern Ireland to create an enterprise zone there "while simultaneously planning cuts for Wales".

Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "Of course we support moves to help economic growth in Northern Ireland - but our businesses here in Wales also desperately need help.

"The Tories' slash and burn cuts to Wales' budget will hit our businesses and economy hard - yet they are promising a boost to Northern Ireland through lower corporation tax, a move they reject for Wales.

"Plaid has long campaigned for corporation tax to be reduced in Wales and for tax breaks in key sectors to help get our economy moving and to create jobs."

More Details: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/wales/8661093.stm