NOW we’ve got a stronger Assembly, the priority for the coming years must be to use its full potential – improving standards in schools and creating good-quality jobs across Wales.

Our Valleys communities have been taken for granted by Labour for decades. Labour only show an interest in us when they want our votes. They had 13 years in government to make a lasting difference for places like Islwyn.

Instead, they chose not to.

The Labour Party are hoping that people will simply forget the terrible job they did in power at Westminster and the cuts they would have implemented had they been re-elected at Westminster.

Don’t let Labour insult your intelligence by claiming they oppose the Westminster Government’s cuts. Labour had plans to slash the Welsh budget by £3 billion.

I know that over the years people in Islwyn have been let down by Labour, angry at the Tories and betrayed by the Lib Dems.

The London parties have had their chance, it’s now time for the party of Wales.

This election should be about ideas to transform our country and communities. Sadly the other parties seem more concerned with continuing their Westminster squabbles than being ambitious for Wales. But Plaid Cymru’s ambition for Wales will not be stifled. Our vision for the next Assembly term is built on four priorities for government.

Firstly, to ensure that children leaving primary school are able to read, write and count to the expected standard.

Secondly, our ‘Build4Wales’ pledge supports the creation of a ‘not-for-distributable-profit’ company which will invest in hospitals, schools, housing and transport and create up to 50,000 jobs across Wales.

Thirdly, ensuring quicker and more effective healthcare by increasing the availability of GPs, dentists and key medical professionals when people need them is at the heart of the party’s third pledge.

And the fourth is to connect Wales for the 21st century with better mobile signal, wi-fi and broadband coverage, and a modern transport system.

Difficult economic times should not mean that another generation is condemned to a future of unemployment, poor skills levels and little hope for the future. It’s time to be ambitious for Wales.

Only Plaid Cymru offer Islwyn and Wales the ideas and commitment to deliver real change.