This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7982635.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
'Put jobs before bankers' - Plaid 'Put jobs before bankers' - Plaid
(about 3 hours later)
By Mark Hannaby BBC News Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones wants the UK Government to prioritise 'real jobs in the real economy' rather than financial institutions.
Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones wants the UK Government to prioritise 'real jobs in the real economy' rather than financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies. In his speech to Plaid's spring conference, the deputy first minister said: "Plaid Cymru is calling for a fiscal stimulus during this recession.
Mr Jones wants a £3bn stimulus package from the UK government "A stimulus targeted at real jobs in the real economy not at banks."
In his speech to Plaid's spring conference Mr Jones will say: "Plaid Cymru is calling for a fiscal stimulus during this recession - a stimulus targeted at real jobs in the real economy not at banks, bankers, insurance companies and the City. He also said there is no better time than the recession to campaign for a more powerful Welsh Assembly.
"It's time for Brown to change course - to ditch his faith in the market and to regulate again for the sake of the economy. If that means nationalising the banks - so be it. Speaking at the conference in Cardiff, he said it was time for the Prime Minister to "change course" and regulate the economy properly.
"If that means a windfall tax on the utilities that are making a mint out of fuel prices - so be it." He called for "a fiscal stimulus, not for banks and insurance companies in the City, but for people and the people of Wales".
But Mr Jones, who serves as Deputy First Minster and Minister for the Economy and Transport in the Labour-Plaid coalition Assembly Government, warns Wales is on course for "financial squeezing" rather than "quantitive easing". But Mr Jones, who serves as Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport in the Labour-Plaid coalition Assembly Government, warned that Wales is on course for "financial squeezing" rather than "quantitive easing".
He claims UK government proposals would cut at least £500 million from the Welsh budget. There's no better time to argue for more self government Ieuan Wyn Jones
Plaid Cymru has called on the UK government to introduce a stimulus package worth approximately £3 billion in Wales which the party claims "will create and save" 40,000 jobs between now and 2011. He claims UK government proposals would cut at least £500m from the Welsh budget.
Other speakers on the conference's second day included Westminster group leader Elfyn Llwyd, who accused the Prime Minister of being "blinded and dazzled" by the "city folk". Plaid Cymru has called on the UK government to introduce a stimulus package worth approximately £3bn in Wales which the party claims "will create and save" 40,000 jobs between now and 2011.
Mr Jones said the financial crisis had exposed the need for further devolution in Wales.
He said he treated each day in his job "as another step on the road to greater self-determination".
"There's no better time to argue for more self government," he told delegates.
"Some will say the recession isn't a time we should be asking for a referendum. I disagree.
"The recession makes the need for greater powers even more stark."
A majority of voters had expressed their desire for a "proper Parliament" in Wales through opinion polls, he said.
"It is becoming the clear preference of the people of Wales," he said.
How long can we now afford not to stand on our feet? Elfyn Llwyd MPHow long can we now afford not to stand on our feet? Elfyn Llwyd MP
Referring to public splits in the party over the ending of a grant which offsets the cost of top-up fees for Welsh students studying in Wales, Mr Jones warned that refusing to make "difficult compromises" with Plaid's Labour partners would lead to a "breakdown in government and endanger what we have set out to achieve".
He added that this would be particularly damaging "at a time when many people in Wales fear for their jobs".
Other speakers on the conference's second day included Westminster group leader Elfyn Llwyd, who accused the Prime Minister of being "blinded and dazzled" by the "city folk" in the run-up to the recession.
Mr Llwyd said that as a result the Mr Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling "did nothing", failing to heed the warnings that a credit crisis was developing.Mr Llwyd said that as a result the Mr Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling "did nothing", failing to heed the warnings that a credit crisis was developing.
The MP poured scorn on what he said was a joke by the Prime Minister that Wales could not "exist on its own feet during the economic storm".The MP poured scorn on what he said was a joke by the Prime Minister that Wales could not "exist on its own feet during the economic storm".
"How long can we now afford not to stand on our feet?" he added."How long can we now afford not to stand on our feet?" he added.
Party President Dafydd Iwan also spoke at the conference and warned "we cannot trust any more in the capitalist order as it was."Party President Dafydd Iwan also spoke at the conference and warned "we cannot trust any more in the capitalist order as it was."
He said Plaid Cymru's new message was of the need to create "a new world order...putting people first".He said Plaid Cymru's new message was of the need to create "a new world order...putting people first".
Plaid's director of elections Adam Price MP and director of policy Nerys Evans AM will also address the conference. Plaid's director of elections Adam Price MP and director of policy Nerys Evans AM also addressed the conference.
Mr Price will urge the people of Wales to join the debate on the referendum for further powers for the National Assembly. Mr Price urged the people of Wales to join the debate on the referendum for further powers for the National Assembly.
He will say: "The truth is we are the only generation ever in Welsh history that has its destiny within our own hands. He said: "The truth is we are the only generation ever in Welsh history that has its destiny within our own hands.
We can't confine our vision for Wales by what's devolved, what's not devolved and what we can do within the current constitutional settlement Nerys EvansWe can't confine our vision for Wales by what's devolved, what's not devolved and what we can do within the current constitutional settlement Nerys Evans
"Let's seize that opportunity with those hands. Not to demand a referendum will be a vote of no-confidence not in our government but in our own nation.""Let's seize that opportunity with those hands. Not to demand a referendum will be a vote of no-confidence not in our government but in our own nation."
The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP claims the Westminster government shows "bias" towards the south east of England and that this demonstrates the importance of Wales being able to make its own decisions. The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP claimed the Westminster government shows "bias" towards the south east of England and that this demonstrates the importance of Wales being able to make its own decisions.
He argues that in London unemployment has fallen by 33,000 over the last year in comparison to a rise of 28,000 in Wales. He argued that in London unemployment has fallen by 33,000 over the last year in comparison to a rise of 28,000 in Wales.
Plaid's director of policy Nerys Evans told BBC Wales that although the party is in government in the assembly and some local authorities, it needs to develop a policy and a vision for Wales "outside those institutional silos".Plaid's director of policy Nerys Evans told BBC Wales that although the party is in government in the assembly and some local authorities, it needs to develop a policy and a vision for Wales "outside those institutional silos".
Ms Evans said: "We can't confine our vision for Wales by what's devolved, what's not devolved and what we can do within the current constitutional settlement.Ms Evans said: "We can't confine our vision for Wales by what's devolved, what's not devolved and what we can do within the current constitutional settlement.
"Our vision has got to be much wider than that, and going into each election then we've got to see - whatever institution we're trying to fight seats for - how we can deliver those steps towards our aspirations for our nation.""Our vision has got to be much wider than that, and going into each election then we've got to see - whatever institution we're trying to fight seats for - how we can deliver those steps towards our aspirations for our nation."
Plaid's politicians no longer seem ambivalent about using the word "independence" to describe the party's constitutional aim.Plaid's politicians no longer seem ambivalent about using the word "independence" to describe the party's constitutional aim.
The party recently launched a website, walescan.com, specifically to promote that objective and Plaid's deputy assembly group leader Helen Mary Jones's speech is on her vision of an independent Wales.The party recently launched a website, walescan.com, specifically to promote that objective and Plaid's deputy assembly group leader Helen Mary Jones's speech is on her vision of an independent Wales.
South Wales Central AM Chris Franks said Plaid's role in the assembly's coalition government had been crucial in addressing economic woes and paid tribute to Mr Jones' work as minister for the economy.South Wales Central AM Chris Franks said Plaid's role in the assembly's coalition government had been crucial in addressing economic woes and paid tribute to Mr Jones' work as minister for the economy.
He said: "He has introduced the training programmes REACT and PROACT that help people at risk of losing their jobs or who have actually lost their jobs.He said: "He has introduced the training programmes REACT and PROACT that help people at risk of losing their jobs or who have actually lost their jobs.
"Also Ieuan is bringing forward building programmes, road schemes, railway schemes.""Also Ieuan is bringing forward building programmes, road schemes, railway schemes."