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Expose 'nasty' Tories says Harman | Expose 'nasty' Tories says Harman |
(20 minutes later) | |
Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman has been rallying party activists ahead of May's local elections. | Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman has been rallying party activists ahead of May's local elections. |
Ms Harman told the party's Welsh conference that the elections were an opportunity to expose the "shallowness" of David Cameron's Conservatives. | Ms Harman told the party's Welsh conference that the elections were an opportunity to expose the "shallowness" of David Cameron's Conservatives. |
It was her first speech in Wales since the controversy over donations to the party's deputy leadership contest. | It was her first speech in Wales since the controversy over donations to the party's deputy leadership contest. |
She said the Tories were "the same old nasty party, although they pretend that they've changed." | She said the Tories were "the same old nasty party, although they pretend that they've changed." |
Ms Harman said the council elections in Wales and England gave Labour the chance to "expose the falseness and the shallowness of the Tories." | Ms Harman said the council elections in Wales and England gave Labour the chance to "expose the falseness and the shallowness of the Tories." |
"We can expose the duplicity and opportunism of the Tories." | "We can expose the duplicity and opportunism of the Tories." |
Let no-one tell you that we will not be campaigning as hard as ever against Plaid Cymru Paul Murphy, Welsh Secretary | |
She also used her speech in Llandudno to pay tribute to Peter Hain, who resigned as Welsh Secretary last month over undeclared donations. | She also used her speech in Llandudno to pay tribute to Peter Hain, who resigned as Welsh Secretary last month over undeclared donations. |
Ms Harman, who beat him to the deputy leader's post, said Mr Hain would remain a "progressive force" in Labour politics. | Ms Harman, who beat him to the deputy leader's post, said Mr Hain would remain a "progressive force" in Labour politics. |
The conference also heard a first major speech from Mr Hain's successor, Paul Murphy. | |
He admitted that lessons had been learnt from Labour's assembly election campaign last year. | |
But he said that despite being in coalition with Plaid Cymru in Cardiff Bay, Labour would "fight them every step of the way" in the local election campaign. | |
"Let no-one tell you that we will not be campaigning as hard as ever against Plaid Cymru", said Mr Murphy said to loud applause. | |
"We may be sharing power with them in the assembly but there is no wider pact". | |
'Biggest challenges' | |
But it is the Liberal Democrats who are the main focus of Labour's attentions as they target four big councils: Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham. | |
Mr Murphy, who had been a vocal opponent of Labour's coalition deal with Plaid Cymru to form an assembly government, said he was a "devo-realist'". | |
He added that it was understandable that people wanted a debate about assembly powers but that Labour should remember that services and social justice were the priority. | |
On Friday evening, Gordon Brown told delegates there were no "Wales-only" solutions to some of the United Kingdom's biggest challenges. | On Friday evening, Gordon Brown told delegates there were no "Wales-only" solutions to some of the United Kingdom's biggest challenges. |
He praised devolution but stressed the importance of UK-wide policies. | He praised devolution but stressed the importance of UK-wide policies. |
"Our message is one for the whole of the United Kingdom: stronger together, weaker apart," he said. | "Our message is one for the whole of the United Kingdom: stronger together, weaker apart," he said. |
"We also know whether it's the need to cooperate for a safe environment or national security, or for the safeguarding of pensions and general economic success, that there is no Wales-only, no England-only, no Scotland-only solution to the biggest challenges we face." | "We also know whether it's the need to cooperate for a safe environment or national security, or for the safeguarding of pensions and general economic success, that there is no Wales-only, no England-only, no Scotland-only solution to the biggest challenges we face." |
The prime minister also issued a rallying cry ahead of the local elections. | The prime minister also issued a rallying cry ahead of the local elections. |
"Let us on May the first send the message: Labour councillors will make our communities safer, cleaner, greener and better. Getting results for Wales," stressed Mr Brown. | "Let us on May the first send the message: Labour councillors will make our communities safer, cleaner, greener and better. Getting results for Wales," stressed Mr Brown. |