Bourne offers no alternative to "cosy consensus" - Williams

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 1st Oct 2007

Kirsty Williams has attacked Nick Bourne's desperate wooing of Plaid supporters today as "more George Formby than George Clooney", claiming that the Tories did not offer an attractive alternative for centre-left voters in Wales.

Ms Williams, enterprise and education spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, who twice beat Mr Bourne in Assembly Elections in Brecon and Radnorshire, said:

"Many Plaid supporters, who will be disappointed that they backtracked on the election promise to kick Labour out, share Liberal Democrat positions on Iraq, ID cards and nuclear power.

"They want no part of the cosy consensus that the Tories share with Labour on the main issues of the day.

"The two parties are complacent and comfortable in their authoritarian centre-right positions. Failing to tackle climate change, introduce a fairer tax system, tuition fees, pensions and nuclear power.

"In the Assembly Plaid are now cwtching up to this cosy consensus. We have already seen them ditch long held principles on local income tax and nuclear power since entering government. Those people who feel let down by this will not find an alternative with the Tories who introduced council tax, back nuclear power and remain sceptical of devolution.

"The Welsh Liberal Democrats offer a progressive alternative and a break with the cosy consensus.

"Those voters who opposed the war in Iraq, believe that tax should be based on the ability to pay, who want real action on the environment and value civil liberties have a party that reflects those values. It is the Liberal Democrats."