Welsh Lib Dems challenge parties to publish manifesto costings

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are the only party to have published a full set of costings as a part of their election manifesto. The costings set out in detail how the Welsh Liberal Democrats would fund key policies, including:

· Creating jobs and improving our economy by offering new companies £2,000 for staff training if they provide jobs to unemployed young people.

· Tackling the spending gap, providing more money for schools by targeting additional money at the 80,000 pupils who need it the most so that schools can afford to invest in the things that really matter, such as smaller class sizes or one-on-one teaching.

· Radically overhauling the energy efficiency of an extra 12,000 homes by doubling the money available for tackling fuel poverty.

In contrast, one week after the publication of the party manifestos, Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives have yet to publish any manifesto costings at all.

Peter Black, the Welsh Liberal Democrat’s finance spokesperson said:

“One week after the publication of the manifestos, Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives have still failed to set out any costings for their manifesto priorities.

“Plaid Cymru are proposing to lavish millions on businesses loans but have no idea where the cash will come from.

“Labour have expensive but totally uncosted promises on policing, jobs, and schools funding.

“The Conservatives, whilst not providing costings, have at least made it clear that they wish to slash funding to schools, housing, local government, rural affairs, economic development, tourism and the environment. They now need to come clean on the true scale of the cuts they are proposing and where they will find the savings.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats are the only party to have published fully costs plans alongside our manifesto. Our key priorities of offering new companies £2,000 for staff training if they provide jobs to unemployed young people and of targeting additional money for the pupils who need it the most are fully costed and affordable.

“It is time the other parties came clean on the cost of their promises.”