Labour criticised for NHS and schools general election promises in Wales

Labour has been criticised for releasing an election leaflet making promises about things it will do if elected that the party has had the power to do in Wales for 20 years and never done.

The promises, which do not reflect the fact that Welsh Labour already runs the NHS in Wales, were printed in a leaflet that was released on behalf of Labour Monmouthshire election candidate Catherine Fookes.

Within the leaflet it makes a number of pledges including:

• Recruiting new teachers

• Cut NHS wait times

• Training more doctors and nurses

• Cleaning up Wales' rivers

READ MORE: Prediction - How the donation saga will end

READ MORE: This is just embarrassing for Welsh democracy

All of these areas, education, health and environment are currently devolved matters meaning it has been within the Welsh Labour Government's gift to initiate these change before now.

Monmouthshire would be a big scalp for Welsh Labour. The current MP is secretary of state for Wales David TC Davies. He told WalesOnline that Labour were "deliberately misleading the public" with their campaign materials.

David TC Davies said: “The UK Labour Party know full well that the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff Bay have controlled our NHS, schools and rivers since 1999.

“And now they’re trying to con the people of Wales by claiming they can sort river pollution and cut NHS waiting lists. It’s appalling that they’re deliberately misleading the public by claiming they can improve the NHS and other devolved areas - when Welsh Labour have failed to do so after 25 years.

“What we do know is that the Welsh Labour government has failed our NHS - and is now cutting health boards to then spend that money on creating more politicians , at a cost of over £120 million. We should judge Vaughan Gething, Catherine Fookes and the rest of Welsh Labour on their record, not their empty promises. “

There has been concerns within some elements of Welsh Labour about the fact UK Labour have rejected devolution of justice and policing despite it being in both Jeremy Miles and Vaughan Gething's bids to be First Minister.

Commenting on the leaflet a Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Health and education are two of the biggest issues that people face every day. We can turn the page on fourteen years of Tory chaos with two Labour governments working together, investing in health, education and our economy. That’s what change looks like.”