What are the parties pledging to do for Wales?
As the General Election gets nearer, each party is releasing its manifesto. So far, we’ve had the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, Green Party, Plaid Cymru and Brexit Party manifestos. The Conservatives and Labour have both also published separate documents for Wales. But what is each party actually promising for us? Political editor Ruth Mosalski takes a look BREXIT PARTY
The Brexit Party launched its document not as a manifesto, but a “contract with the people”.
There isn’t a single explicit mention of “Wales” in the document.
CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Of its manifesto’s 64 pages, about a page is specifically dedicated to Wales.
The detail on Wales kicks off with Brexit.
“Wales voted to Leave – yet the Welsh Labour Government and Plaid Cymru are intent on overturning that decision by holding another referendum on our membership of the EU. Only the Welsh Conservatives can end the current uncertainty by delivering on the democratic decision of the Welsh people to Leave”.
It also promises:
■ A Marches Growth Deal focusing on cross-border infrastructure which supports the local and crossborder economy;
■ to upgrade the A55 in north Wales;
■ to deliver the M4 relief road; and ■ support “the ambition for one million people in Wales to be able to speak Welsh by 2050”.
However, roads are devolved and decisions such as the M4 relief road can only be made by the Welsh Government.
The document reiterates policy announcements already made, such as building a West Wales Parkway Station outside Swansea, and “we will continue to back Welsh car manufacturing, as the industry transitions to building electric vehicles in the coming decades”.
Days after the main launch, a Welsh manifesto was also launched which mainly covers things they hope to do if there is a Welsh Conservative Government.
The next Assembly election is due in May 2021.
However, it says there would be a “substantial increase in funding to the Welsh Government” due to the policies announced in the national document.
In his foreword, Prime Minister Boris Johnson says: “One Nation Conservative Government is giving the NHS its biggest ever cash boost, worth £1.9bn extra for Welsh public services.”
Later in the document it says that due to the “extra £14bn in funding for schools in England” there would be a “substantial increase in funding to the Welsh Government”.
“In addition the Welsh Government will receive an extra £35m in new funding to support children with additional educational needs and the implementation of an Autism Act for Wales,” it says.
GREEN PARTY
The Green Party was the first to launch its manifesto, in which there are 15 explicit mentions of “Wales”.
Specific policies which mention Wales are:
■ Giving fuller voice to regional and national identities, holding a referendum on a Cornish Assembly and increasing the powers of the current National Assembly for Wales;
■ giving communities the first chance to buy local land that comes up for sale by extending Scotland’s Community Right to Buy policy to England and Wales;
■ increasing funding for adult education across England and Wales;
■ granting people in England and Wales the same right to roam over all landscapes as people in Scotland currently enjoy; and
■ introducing a Future Generations Act for England, modelled on the current Act in Wales.
LABOUR
In the main manifesto, there are 16 mentions of Wales and the party also launched a Welsh Labour manifesto. The main manifesto makes the following pledges specifically related to Wales:
■ A Local Transformation Fund in each English region will be used exclusively to fund infrastructure projects decided at a local level, as will devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland;
■ rail electrification “across the whole country, including in Wales”; ■ it promises that a UK government will “learn from Wales’ example” when it comes to recycling;
■ an extra £3.4bn for Wales;
■ environmental energy scheme jobs “such as the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project”;
■ And on nuclear power: “The Tories have let down the people of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) by failing to
deliver the Wylfa project. Labour will work with people on the island to maximise its potential for new nuclear energy, alongside investment in renewables”; ■ on justice: “The Thomas Com mission on Justice in Wales is clear that the justice system is not work ing for Wales. Labour governments in Wales and Westminster will work together, using the Commission’s report, to put that right”; and ■ on Brexit, the manifesto points out the difference in campaign stratetegy between London and Cardiff Bay: “Only Labour will put this deci sion back in the hands of the people, and in Wales the Welsh Labour Gov ernment will campaign to remain.”
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
The Lib Dem manifesto is called "Stop Brexit, Build a Brighter Future”. In the document there are 22 mentions of Wales, which promise:
■ completing the introduction of equal marriage, by enabling the Church of England and Church in Wales to conduct same-sex marriages;
■ on Brexit: “We will not allow Brexit to reverse devolution and will oppose attempts to use Brexit to go back to the past when powers were hoarded at Westminster. We will champion a federal future for the UK”;
■ on devolution: “We will complete the next stage of devolution in Wales by implementing the remaining Silk proposals and substantially reducing the number of powers reserved to Westminster”;
■ devolving Air Passenger Duty;
■ creating a distinct legal jurisdiction for Wales to reflect the growing divergence in law as a result of devolution;
■ devolving powers over youth justice, probation services, prisons and policing to allow an “effective, liberal, community-based approach to policing and tackling crime”; and
■ on funding: “We will address the imbalance by immediately ensuring that the Barnett floor is set at a level that reflects the need for Wales to be funded fairly and seek over a Parliament to increase the Welsh block grant to an equitable level.” In the costings document, the Lib Dems say they will spend £6,790m on Wales and provide an additional £1,870m in funding for Wales.
PLAID CYMRU
Unsurprisingly, “Wales, It’s Us” contains the most mentions of Wales – with a whopping 232 in the 45-page English-language version.
They have five key pledges: ■ Welsh green jobs revolution: “Create tens of thousands of new jobs throughout Wales by kick-starting a multi-billion investment programme in renewable energy, transport infrastructure and digital technology, with the goal of making Wales a carbon and single-use plastic free nation by 2030”;
■ Caring for everyone: “Free social care for the elderly and other vulnerable citizens through a new National Health and Social Care Service, with an additional 1,000 new doctors, 5,000 new nurses, and 100 new NHS dentists offering seamless access to health and care for everyone throughout Wales”;
■ a fair deal for families: “Universal free childcare for 40 hours a week, and a new £35 a week payment for every child in low-income families, lifting 50,000 children in Wales out of poverty. Plus £300m extra for schools and colleges”;
■ action on housing: “Major investment in environmentally sustainable affordable homes and rent relief for people who pay more than 30% of their income on rent; and
■ combating crime: “Create a Welsh justice system, devolve policing and create a new crime prevention fund to recruit 1,600 extra police officers”.