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| Final push for votes on last lap | Final push for votes on last lap |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The political parties are pressing home their key themes on the final day of campaigning before polls open for the third Welsh assembly election. | The political parties are pressing home their key themes on the final day of campaigning before polls open for the third Welsh assembly election. |
| Labour claimed the NHS was at risk if a Conservative became health minister in a post-election coalition with Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats. | |
| Plaid argued that it could become the biggest party in the assembly. | |
| Tories emphasised their commitment to the NHS, and Lib Dems claimed they would deliver "a great leap forward". | |
| With a number of smaller parties claiming they could make a breakthrough, and independents standing across Wales, many pundits regard this as the most unpredictable election since the assembly was set up in 1999. | With a number of smaller parties claiming they could make a breakthrough, and independents standing across Wales, many pundits regard this as the most unpredictable election since the assembly was set up in 1999. |
| Labour sent out an advertising van claiming that only a vote for them "can prevent a Tory minister taking over the health service". | Labour sent out an advertising van claiming that only a vote for them "can prevent a Tory minister taking over the health service". |
| Its pledges including maximum NHS waiting times of 26 weeks by 2009, 25,000 apprenticeships and extra childcare. | Its pledges including maximum NHS waiting times of 26 weeks by 2009, 25,000 apprenticeships and extra childcare. |
| Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said electors had a choice between "feelgood Wales, going in the right direction under Rhodri (Morgan) and Welsh Labour, or the risk of it all unravelling with a weak and divided coalition of the nationalists and the Tories, leading only to instability and conflict". | Secretary of State for Wales Peter Hain said electors had a choice between "feelgood Wales, going in the right direction under Rhodri (Morgan) and Welsh Labour, or the risk of it all unravelling with a weak and divided coalition of the nationalists and the Tories, leading only to instability and conflict". |
| HOW THE ASSEMBLY STOOD Labour: 29 seatsPlaid Cymru: 12Conservatives: 11Liberal Democrats: 6Independents: 2 | HOW THE ASSEMBLY STOOD Labour: 29 seatsPlaid Cymru: 12Conservatives: 11Liberal Democrats: 6Independents: 2 |
| Mr Hain said: "Only a vote for Rhodri and Welsh Labour on 3 May can safeguard our public services and stop the Tories winning power with Plaid and the Liberals." | Mr Hain said: "Only a vote for Rhodri and Welsh Labour on 3 May can safeguard our public services and stop the Tories winning power with Plaid and the Liberals." |
| Plaid claimed that recent polls "put a Plaid victory within the margin of error" and that the party's momentum meant "a final surge could see Labour defeated for the first time since devolution." | Plaid claimed that recent polls "put a Plaid victory within the margin of error" and that the party's momentum meant "a final surge could see Labour defeated for the first time since devolution." |
| Labour has been in power since the assembly was founded, either alone or in coalition with the Lib Dems from 2000 to 2003. | Labour has been in power since the assembly was founded, either alone or in coalition with the Lib Dems from 2000 to 2003. |
| 'Clear choice' | 'Clear choice' |
| Plaid has promised to cut energy use by 10% and CO2 emissions by 3% a year, laptops for 11-year-olds and grants up to £5,000 for first-time home buyers. | Plaid has promised to cut energy use by 10% and CO2 emissions by 3% a year, laptops for 11-year-olds and grants up to £5,000 for first-time home buyers. |
| Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "We can say two things with certainty. The Labour vote across Wales is in meltdown, and all evidence suggests Plaid is the only party that can defeat Labour. | Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "We can say two things with certainty. The Labour vote across Wales is in meltdown, and all evidence suggests Plaid is the only party that can defeat Labour. |
| "Together these two dynamics are creating a perfect storm in the last days of the campaign, providing significant momentum which could see a Plaid surge in the last days of the campaign and secure an historic victory. | "Together these two dynamics are creating a perfect storm in the last days of the campaign, providing significant momentum which could see a Plaid surge in the last days of the campaign and secure an historic victory. |
| "The people of Wales have a clear choice on Thursday, four more years of the same with Labour or a change of direction with Plaid." | "The people of Wales have a clear choice on Thursday, four more years of the same with Labour or a change of direction with Plaid." |
| Conservatives say the NHS is their top priority, and have pledged to end a "postcode lottery" on drugs, with quicker treatment and cleaner hospitals. | Conservatives say the NHS is their top priority, and have pledged to end a "postcode lottery" on drugs, with quicker treatment and cleaner hospitals. |
| 'Lack of delivery' | 'Lack of delivery' |
| Tories also stressed their environmental concerns, including plans to give every home £20 of low energy light bulbs. | Tories also stressed their environmental concerns, including plans to give every home £20 of low energy light bulbs. |
| Nick Bourne, leader of the assembly Tories, said: "It's very clear to me, having been in all 40 constituencies, that the only vote that Labour fears is Conservative. | Nick Bourne, leader of the assembly Tories, said: "It's very clear to me, having been in all 40 constituencies, that the only vote that Labour fears is Conservative. |
| "People are fed up with Rhodri Morgan and Tony Blair and lack of delivery in the assembly." | "People are fed up with Rhodri Morgan and Tony Blair and lack of delivery in the assembly." |
| If no party wins a majority, Mr Bourne claimed Plaid would "prop up" Labour and Lib Dems would go into coalition with Mr Morgan. | If no party wins a majority, Mr Bourne claimed Plaid would "prop up" Labour and Lib Dems would go into coalition with Mr Morgan. |
| "Vote Plaid and get Labour; vote Lib Dem and get Labour; vote Conservative and you get a change," he said. | "Vote Plaid and get Labour; vote Lib Dem and get Labour; vote Conservative and you get a change," he said. |
| Conservative enterprise spokesman Alun Cairns accused Plaid of making "wholly uncosted" manifesto commitment and said Tories had been "absolutely honest" with voters in their promises. | Conservative enterprise spokesman Alun Cairns accused Plaid of making "wholly uncosted" manifesto commitment and said Tories had been "absolutely honest" with voters in their promises. |
| Meanwhile, Mike German, leader of the Lib Dems in the assembly, campaigned in areas where his party already has elected members. | Meanwhile, Mike German, leader of the Lib Dems in the assembly, campaigned in areas where his party already has elected members. |
| Lib Dems have made such pledges as smaller class sizes, healthier school meals and climate change action under the slogan "A fair, green future". | Lib Dems have made such pledges as smaller class sizes, healthier school meals and climate change action under the slogan "A fair, green future". |
| Mr German was visiting in Wrexham, Montgomeryshire and Brecon and Radnorshire. | Mr German was visiting in Wrexham, Montgomeryshire and Brecon and Radnorshire. |
| Polling booths will open at 0700 BST on Thursday and close at 2200 BST. | Polling booths will open at 0700 BST on Thursday and close at 2200 BST. |