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Plaid promises 'positive' future Plaid 'open to coalition offers'
(about 5 hours later)
Plaid Cymru is claiming it can bring positive government to Wales after years of Labour failure, at the opening of its spring conference in Caernarfon. Plaid Cymru has said it is open to coalition offers if no single party wins a majority at May's election.
Former leader Dafydd Wigley said confidence has "not been so high" within the party since 1999, the party's highpoint in assembly polls. But campaigns director Adam Price MP, said Plaid would refuse to serve as a junior party to a Tory first minister.
Details of new policies on council tax and policing are being unveiled, as members prepare for May's election. Mr Price said if they could form a government after 3 May they would talk to the Labour, Lib Dems, and "yes...talk to the Conservatives".
Mr Wigley said people "need and expect, Plaid to stand up for them now". "We will invite them to talk with us every day of every week", he told the party spring conference in Caernarfon.
Plaid Cyrmu holds 12 assembly seats in the current government, while the Conservatives have 11.
Labour had earlier in the day challenged Plaid to rule out working with the Conservatives in the event of a hung assembly, sending their candidate Martin Eaglestone to the conference to ask Mr Price and Mr Wyn Jones in person.
Plaid is ready-to deliver affordable childcare, laptops for kids, energy efficiency grants, business tax cuts and a new community health service" Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones
In return, Mr Price, the MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefrw, asked Mr Eaglestone if he would deliver a contract to Labour calling for the end of "illegal wars", no more nuclear weapons and a stop to hospital cuts.
Both men signed their own contracts - but not each others.
Plaid leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones urged the party faithful to make good use of their time between now and the election, and contrasted Plaid's positive approach to what he saw as "a tired rudderless Labour Party".
Mr Jones said that Plaid Cymru, which also unveiled details of two major new policies - a cap on council tax for pensioners and 500 more community policemen - was now ready for government:
"Plaid is ready-to deliver affordable childcare, laptops for kids, energy efficiency grants, business tax cuts and a new community health service".
Confidence
He said he was sure that Labour's claim of "vote Plaid get the Tories" would not wash with voters
Mr Jones was also sure Plaid Cymru would win more seats at this year's election, although he refused to say just how many.
In the 2003 assembly election Plaid Cymru lost five seats.
Earlier former leader Dafydd Wigley said confidence had "not been so high" within the party since 1999, the party's highpoint in assembly polls.
Mr Wigley, who is hoping to return to the assembly as an AM for North Wales in the May poll, said people "need and expect Plaid to stand up for them now".
"Plaid puts communities first. We are a party born in Wales and which has matured in Wales."Plaid puts communities first. We are a party born in Wales and which has matured in Wales.
"We reflect the needs of the people of Wales, and will not pander to those in London who think they know best. Wales is ready for Plaid, and Plaid is ready to work for Wales - to make a difference," said Mr Wigley, who is hoping to return to the assembly as an AM for North Wales in the May poll. Bouyant mood
The positivity within the party, its activists and supporters, is higher now than for many years Plaid Cymru chair John Dixon "We reflect the needs of the people of Wales, and will not pander to those in London who think they know best. Wales is ready for Plaid, and Plaid is ready to work for Wales - to make a difference," he said.
He went on to attack Labour, saying their "policy-light but negative attack-laden campaign shows signs of a party convulsing in the death throws of a slow and lingering end." Plaid Cymru chair John Dixon, also relayed the message the party was in buoyant mood.
Plaid Cymru chair John Dixon, also said they were in buoyant mood.
"The party has never been in such good shape: professionally, financially, or in readiness for an election campaign."The party has never been in such good shape: professionally, financially, or in readiness for an election campaign.
"The positivity within the party, its activists and supporters, is higher now than for many years," said Mr Dixon, the Plaid assembly candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire"The positivity within the party, its activists and supporters, is higher now than for many years," said Mr Dixon, the Plaid assembly candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Election poster
In his address later, party leader Ieuan Wyn Jones is expected to attack Labour's record in government in Cardiff Bay.
Mr Jones is set to describe Labour's eight years in government as a "failure".
He is expected to question the achievements of the Labour party during its time in power in Cardiff Bay, including its record on health, the economy and education.
On the eve of the conference, Plaid unveiled an election poster showing a snail over the slogan "Wales - going nowhere fast under Labour".
The party is due to unveil details of two major new policies - a cap on council tax for pensioners and 500 more community policemen. Party insiders say the election promises have been fully costed.