- Cuts and chaos with the Liberal Democrats, getting results with Labour

WELSH voters face a choice between two futures when they go to the polls tomorrow, Labour First Minister Rhodri Morgan said today.

Speaking on the eve of the local elections in Wales, Rhodri Morgan said Welsh people faced a choice between Liberal Democrat councils, champions at incompetency, weak on crime and anti-social behaviour, or strong Labour councils that will deliver real results on the ground for ordinary people.

He also slammed the abysmal record of the Tories in Welsh local government and said that people did not want councils that badly let down children, the elderly and vulnerable. Rhodri Morgan also questioned whether voters in local government elections really wanted to endorse Plaid Cymru, whose reason for existence was to take Wales out of the United Kingdom.

RHODRI MORGAN said:

“As the people of Wales go to the polling stations they face a choice between two futures. They could in theory support the Liberal Democrats, although they would live to regret it. The record of the Liberal Democrats, often in cahoots with the nationalists and Tories, has been one of bungling that would befit a banana republic. We know what happened to the Cardiff schools reorganisation they put forward and withdrew. We know how the funding of the new Swansea leisure centre has been badly bungled.

“We all know the Liberal Democrats are weak on tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, voting against tough new Labour powers to make our streets safer. But they have been absolutely shambolic in charge of local councils.

“In Swansea they have failed to confiscate illegal mini motos, tackle irresponsible parents, gate trouble-spot alleyways or sort out graffiti. In Bridgend they have failed to use Labour’s tough new laws to take action against shops and pubs selling alcohol to children and they have only employed two people in the whole county to sort out litter and dog mess. In Cardiff they haven’t issued a single ASBO or gated a single trouble alleyway on private land. And in Wrexham they have failed to employ sufficient neighbourhood wardens to combat vandalism, youth nuisance and noise.

“People still do not trust a discredited Tory party that so punished the elderly and vulnerable in the Vale of Glamorgan and scandalously mismanaged the education of children in Denbighshire. This is the party that claims to want low council tax and yet when in power imposes unacceptably high rises on local people.

“The nationalists do not offer anything other than a dustbin for disaffected Labour voters, who do not share for one minute Plaid’s constitutional separation agenda.

“Labour councils across Wales offer local people a genuine partnership between local government, Labour in Westminster and Labour in the Assembly, delivering real results that matter for ordinary people on the ground. I am proud of the work of our councils, delivering quality services and value for money. That’s why I would like more Labour councils and councillors serving the people, because we have that commitment to public services.

“So the people of Wales face two futures, one of safety, well-run services and value for money with Labour, or one of weakness and turmoil with the Liberal Democrats.”