In sharp contrast to Labour's tired, re-packaged policies that have, for the most part, failed to deliver, the Welsh Conservatives' manifesto for the Assembly elections is the most radical, ambitious and comprehensive platform for government the party has ever produced in Wales.

Welsh Conservatives would spend the same as Labour overall on public services, but we would spend the Assembly's block grant more effectively.

All our spending commitments would be financed from an investment fund generated by reallocating 1 percent of existing Welsh Assembly Government budgets.

We need to devolve decision-making even further, so that local communities can have a greater say over what happens in their area.

However it is spun, New Labour has failed people in South Wales East. The facts are that hospital waiting-lists are over 40 percent higher in Wales than in 1999 and that the average council tax bill in South Wales East has doubled in the same time with little improvement to public services.

Welsh Conservatives set out to improve the quality of life for everyone in Wales - better hospitals, more affordable homes, a more sustainable environment.

Redressing the harm done to the NHS remains our main priority, though our pledge of a £100 reduction on council tax bills per pensioner household is indicative of our aim to aid all members of society.

This is part of the £30.95 million fund we have earmarked to help older people meet the cost of soaring bills.

The Welsh Conservatives are committed to equipping the NHS for the 21st Century, cutting waste and bureaucracy and insisting that key decisions over how the NHS is run are best taken at as local level as possible.

We recognise the legitimate concerns of people in South Wales East that both the Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny and Prince of Wales Hospital in Merthyr may be downgraded and the anger caused by the closure of wards at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.

In addition to our detailed programme to rescue our NHS and to improve education in Wales, we pledge action on climate change, economic development and to improve our transport infrastructure in South East Wales - all of which have been dangerously neglected by the Assembly Government.

Welsh Conservatives pledge to continue our campaigns against fly-tipping and the introduction of road pricing - it is vital the views of local people are properly voiced in the Assembly Chamber.