Ed Miliband's address to Wales

"The strength of Welsh devolution is a testament to Labour's achievements in office. Never forget that David Cameron tried to stop it from happening. As a Tory party candidate in 1997, he stood on an anti-devolution platform. But Labour is not running in these elections on the issue of constitutional change - that would be a diversion from the real task which is to the people's voice in the tough times created by this reckless Conservative-led government and their Liberal Democrat allies. No one should doubt that the cuts coming to your street, to every street, were designed in Downing Street. Labour stands for families struggling to make ends meet, for the opportunities of the next generation and for strong communities where we understand the value of what binds us together.

If Labour had won the last Westminster elections, we would have made cuts. But not so far and not so fast. The Tories and the Liberal Democrats chose to take our sensible, measured plans for deficit reduction and go 40 billion pounds further and faster. That is unfair because those cuts will fall first and worst on the most vulnerable in society. And it also the wrong long term choice for our economy because it will destroy the jobs and growth we all need.

A Labour-led Assembly will not be able to stop the reckless deficit reduction plans of the Tories and the Liberal Democrats in Westminster. But it will show that even in the toughest of times for schools, hospitals, jobs and skills there is - and there always will be - an alternative. When David Cameron and Nick Clegg say there is no alternative, they echo another era when another Conservative government practised the politics of division. The politics of division is the trademark of Conservative governments. But Wales shows we can do better. It shows we can do more than protest. We can also protect.

Despite the cuts from the Tory-led Government, there will be no lost generation in Wales this time around. That is the pledge from Carwyn Jones and Welsh Labour in this election - a pledge I am here to support today. We can make a difference, a real difference. But it will only be there if you vote for the one party that is determined and clear about keeping the parties of “there is no alternative” out of office. We will strive to protect what matters most. To put the next generation, hard pressed families and our communities first. These are our values. These are the choices we would make. If you want a party that will be your voice in tough times, vote Labour on May 5th."


nick