This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-34114271

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Nigel Farage steps up UKIP Severn Bridge toll campaign Farage predicts huge UKIP surge in 2016 assembly election
(35 minutes later)
UKIP Leader Nigel Farage is stepping up his party's campaign to scrap the Severn Bridge tolls. Nigel Farage has claimed UKIP has a "real chance" of becoming the official opposition in Cardiff Bay after the 2016 assembly election.
Visiting Wales, he said the fees were hitting the Welsh economy and should dropped when the bridges go into public ownership in 2018. Campaigning in south Wales, Mr Farage restated the party's pledge to scrap the Severn Bridge tolls after 2018.
Mr Farage said any revenue lost to the public purse could be offset by opting for a cheaper version of the planned £1bn M4 relief road around Newport. The party currently has no AMs, but came third in the popular vote in Wales at the general election, with 13.6%.
Mr Farage pledged UKIP would discuss issues "people actually care about" in its assembly election campaign.
'Closed for business'
"I think UKIP in Wales have got a real chance in terms of the assembly election next year of becoming the official opposition," he said.
"And I think we will do it because we will talk about the subjects people actually care about - one of which is that it costs £6.50 to bring a car into Wales and £19.60 to bring a three-and-a-half tonne truck.
"What better message is there that Wales is closed for business?
"Yes, we will fight this campaign on big national issues, but we will also fight this campaign on specific local issues, Welsh issues, and this one, I think is a very good place to start."
Mr Farage said the tolls should be dropped when the bridges go into public ownership in 2018, with any revenue lost to the public purse offset by opting for a cheaper version of the planned £1bn M4 relief road around Newport.
The Welsh government has been asked to comment.The Welsh government has been asked to comment.
The UKIP leader was visiting Wales on Tuesday to boost his party's profile in the run-up to the 2016 Welsh assembly election, in which UKIP hopes to see its first AMs elected. The promise to scrap the Severn Bridge tolls was previously made in UKIP's 2015 general election manifesto and also by the Liberal Democrats.
The pledge to scrap the Severn Bridge tolls was previously made in UKIP's 2015 general election manifesto and also by the Liberal Democrats.
In his March budget, Chancellor George Osborne said VAT on the charges would be scrapped when the bridges return to public ownership.In his March budget, Chancellor George Osborne said VAT on the charges would be scrapped when the bridges return to public ownership.
Responsibility for the bridges lies with the UK government, although Labour has called for this to be devolved.Responsibility for the bridges lies with the UK government, although Labour has called for this to be devolved.
In July 2013, Welsh Labour's Finance Minister Jane Hutt told MPs that the tolls could be used to finance construction of the M4 relief road.In July 2013, Welsh Labour's Finance Minister Jane Hutt told MPs that the tolls could be used to finance construction of the M4 relief road.
Meanwhile Mr Farage also announced that UKIP will mount its own campaign for a "no" vote in the forthcoming EU referendum.