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The Welsh Conservatives are the latest party to launch their manifesto for the upcoming Senedd election – with income tax cuts and an M4 relief road on the agenda.

The largest opposition party at the last Senedd election in 2021, the Conservatives have since lost power in Westminster and are predicted to lose seats in Cardiff Bay this May.

Unveiling his party’s pledges at the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay on Tuesday March 3, Darren Millar said the Tories have a “positive plan to unleash economic growth, create jobs, promote home ownership, cut taxes and waste, put more money into the pockets of hardworking people across the country, and fix our public services”.

But opponents have been quick off the blocks to dismiss the Conservative manifesto as “outlandish” and “unfunded”.

‘Fix Wales’

Launching his plan to “fix Wales”, Mr Millar said: “People in Wales are crying out for positive change, this is our credible and costed plan to deliver just that.

“Our message to the people of Wales is this: no matter where you live, or what your circumstances are, you’ll be better off under a Welsh Conservative government.”

The party’s manifesto pledges include a 1p cut in the basic rate of income tax, and caps on council tax increases – including a referendum on any proposed council tax increases of more than 5%. Caerphilly County Borough Council is upping council tax by 6.25% this year.

Some other policies include scrapping Welsh stamp duty on main homes and bringing back the right to buy scheme, as well as declaring a health emergency.

On devolution, the party does not want any more powers for the Senedd, and pledged “no more spending on non-devolved matters” – as well as vowing to reverse the increase in Senedd Members.

‘Not in contention’

But while Mr Millar was upbeat, his party’s plans were described by Reform UK as a “the sort of wish list that will be rightly dismissed by the people of Wales”.

Reform, who currently have two Senedd Members (both of which defected from the Conservatives) are pushing hard to form the next government in Wales – with most polls putting them as Plaid Cymru’s nearest challenger.

“It’s obvious that the Welsh Tories know they’re not in contention to lead the next Welsh Government, so have started making outlandish promises that, taken together, could never be fulfilled,” Reform’s Wales leader Dan Thomas said.

The Lib Dems also stuck the boot in and said: “It looks like the ghost of Liz Truss is alive and well within the Welsh Conservatives.”

The Lib Dems described the Tory manifesto as being “packed with unfunded tax cuts and eye-catching spending pledges” but said there was “no credible explanation of how any of it would be paid for”.

The Lib Dem spokesperson added: “You can’t promise to fix the NHS and rebuild public services while simultaneously blowing a hole in the public finances. The sums simply don’t add up, and the public will see right through it.”

Hitting out at rival parties, Mr Millar said: “Labour has failed Wales. But they wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of Plaid and the Liberal Democrats. A vote for any of those parties, is a vote for more of the same.

“And neither Reform nor the Greens are credible or serious political parties. They pose a risk to our security, and lack the experience, passion and solutions that Wales needs.”