CONSERVATIVES launched their Welsh manifesto today ahead of the General Election.

The manifesto aims to build on a “strong track record of delivering for Wales.”

A spokesman said that five years ago Wales stood on the brink of serious economic crisis.

“Today, the Welsh economy is growing faster than almost every other part of the United Kingdom - Welsh business confidence is rising and unemployment is falling. More jobs are being created and more Welsh families have the security that a better pay-packet and employment brings.”

Their manifesto, launched in target seat Brecon and Radnorshire, pledges to increase the tax-free personal allowance to £12,500, benefitting 1.4 million tax payers in Wales. They also want to make those working 30 hours on the minimum wage exempt from paying any income tax, want investment in rail electrification, broadband rolled out and rail upgrades, to help people in Wales to buy their first home and not tax parents who want to leave their home to their children and promote Wales abroad and bid to bring the Commonwealth Games to Wales.

With £8 billion of extra funding for the NHS in England, they said there would be significant funding consequentials coming to Wales.

They defended the coalition track record, saying that since 2010 a Conservative led UK government has led to 52,000 new jobs and 22,400 new businesses created in Wales, 1.2 million people getting a tax cut and over 150,000 people being taken out of tax altogether,. They said there has been record investment across the whole of Wales, with major projects unblocked and delivered including rail electrification, borrowing powers for the M4 and a funding floor for Wales. Hosting the NATO and International Investment Summits has put Wales ‘back on the map’, they said.

Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly would aim to “restore Wales' reputation for excellence in education, dragged down by 16 years of Welsh Labour control”, and fund schools directly to give power to parents, teachers and governors. They would increase spending on the Welsh NHS, supported by a strong economy and carry out a full, public independent inquiry into the NHS and would freeze council tax and help social housing tenants onto the housing ladder.

The Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb said ahead of the launch: "Today we are launching a positive manifesto for securing Wales' economic recovery, The last five years have shown that it takes Conservatives in government to get things done for Wales. By rolling up our sleeves and facing Wales' challenges head on, our ambitious programme for the next five years will create new and better jobs for Wales."