LABOUR has pledged to invest Wales’ share of the planned mansion tax into the Welsh NHS.

The move would see money from the so-called 'Barnett consequential' from the mansion tax (the portion of UK revenue given to Wales), tobacco levy and cracking down on tax avoidance will be used to train 1,000 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses and therapists over the course of the next Parliament.

The pledge reads: "Welsh Labour will use the mansion tax to train an extra 1,000 doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to target areas of greatest pressure."

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "This is a serious commitment to our NHS in Wales, only possible with the election of a Labour Government in May. We know that people in Wales cherish their NHS, and want to see a safe, modern and sustainable service guaranteed for the future. We need more trained healthcare professionals to make that happen.

"In addition to the £500m we have already invested in the NHS over the next two years, Welsh Labour are demonstrating our commitment to frontline services even in tough times.

"This is a real dividing line with the Tories, who are trying to roll back more and more taxes for millionaires and want to cut the state down to 1930s levels. Welsh Labour is the party of the NHS, and we will always fight for its future."

Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith added: “The creation of the NHS is the single greatest Labour achievement, and that greatest thing about the NHS is its people.

“Training more frontline staff will be a huge boost for health services across Wales, but most importantly, will help relieve pressure in those areas that have seen demand for services hit record levels.

“We are able to make this commitment thanks to a tax on some of the wealthiest people in the UK. A proper redistributive tax that takes money from those with the most, to invest in something that we all use and love - our NHS.

“Only Labour will stand up for our health services and protect them from Tories, who are against this extra money for the Welsh NHS, and who failed even to mention the NHS in their list of priorities ahead of the election.”