Lib Dems ratify election manifesto

Charles Kennedy said Labour was not spending enough

On the final day of the Welsh Liberal Democrats' conference in Cardiff, delegates have voted to endorse the party's draft general election manifesto.

The document calls for the Welsh Assembly to be given the same law-making and tax-raising powers as the Scottish parliament.

Delegates have also backed calls for the National Assembly budget to be increased after a review of the funding formula that determines it.

On Saturday, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy called for Tony Blair to create a "war cabinet" to deal with the foot-and-mouth crisis.

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He told the conference in Cardiff that a group within the cabinet should monitor the situation hour by hour.

Conservative leader William Hague has also called for a "crisis cabinet" to meet daily until the outbreak is under control.

Mr Kennedy was speaking on a visit to south Wales which included a speech to the Secondary Heads Association conference in Newport.

There, he called on the government to reduce class sizes.

Attack on record

Mr Kennedy used his speech at the annual Welsh party conference to attack Labour's record in office.

Mr Kennedy told delegates Labour had spent a smaller proportion of national wealth on public services than the Conservatives.

The government had, he said, failed to deliver and only in Wales and Scotland, where the Liberal Democrats have entered coalition government, have there been results.

The party has used much of this week's conference to distinguish the Lib Dems from Labour.

Welsh party leader Richard Livsey said his party was the only true reforming party.