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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Final push for votes on last lap | Final push for votes on last lap |
| (about 2 hours 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". |
| Labour's Rhodri Morgan does one of his final campaign TV interviewsIts 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 "feel good 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." |
| At an eve of poll news conference, Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan described the choice for voters as being between a "grown-up Labour government" or a "pig in a poke" coalition. | |
| Mr Morgan, in reflective mood, said voters had an "absolute democratic right" to vote for a change but repeated Mr Hain's warning that it would be a gamble. | |
| He said: "The problem with doing that is it puts at risk the stability, the jobs growth, the investment in health and education and in transport that is going on in all parts of Wales because you don't know what you are going to get. | |
| "If they want stable government that they can trust they can also vote for that by voting Labour, that's the choice." | |
| Nick Bourne and Tory colleagues in a good mood near the SeneddPlaid 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." |
| Liberal Democrat Mike German drums up support in NewportConservatives 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. |
| 'Shot to ribbons' | |
| 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 Wrexham, Montgomeryshire and Brecon and Radnorshire and predicting his party would be the "biggest net gainers on election night". | |
| He said: "We are on target to continue our growth in all parts of Wales - and win more votes and more seats than ever before. | |
| "In every region, a vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats can be a winning vote, winning more seats, and more influence to deliver our programme for government." | |
| Lib Dem campaign chair Jenny Willott ridiculed Plaid's claim of a "late surge" by saying: "We've more chance of seeing the late Serge Gainsbourg in this campaign, than a late surge to Plaid. | |
| "Their manifesto is light on detail, and their Planet Plaid finances have been shot to ribbons. Their pledges would spend three times more than the other parties agree is available." | |
| 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. |