SUDDENLY we are hearing promises that taxes won’t rise and that austerity won’t be too bad. There will be all sorts of goodies for the electorate. These promises come from both the UK government and Labour. Benefits will be slashed but no one says where. Will pensioners be in for a nasty shock post election?

There will be more cash for the NHS and hospitals will be fully functioning for 24 hours a day. Really!

The current situation is that public services are being lost, libraries are closing and colleges see their budgets dramatically reduced. Pay has not kept pace with costs.

The truth is that Plaid Cymru is the only elected party in Wales that is opposed to austerity which is proven to have failed. After five years the financial effect is a mushrooming national debt. Up from £800 billion to £1.5 trillion, austerity has not worked.

Plaid’s cautious plans to gently increase budgets would protect health, education and council services. At the same time it would boost business so reducing the deficit as a share of the economy. The commitment to a minimum living wage would give a pay rise to 250,000 in Wales by 2020.

Many will not be surprised that the austerity policies are favoured by the present coalition government. It’s Labour’s enthusiasm for these disastrous plans that is shocking.

Plaid Cymru wants more investment in Welsh public services, an extra 1,000 medical jobs and to scrap taxes for 70,000 small businesses.

We should have control over Corporation Tax so making Wales more attractive to business. It’s a shame that Wales does not have this power to cut tax rates in Wales if it benefits the economy.

Chris Franks

Dinas Powys