'Disgrace' claim over health leaflet

Conservative Nigel Evans says Lib Dems are misleading people

An angry row over the future of the National Health Service has fired up the Welsh Assembly election.

With Wales basking in unseasonally high temperatures, the previously lukewarm campaign for the 1 May poll has seen its first moment of heated controversy.

Conservative MP Nigel Evans called the Liberal Democrats a "disgrace" for claiming that his party wanted to privatise the NHS.

It came as a new opinion poll for HTV suggested that health minister Jane Hutt could increase the Labour majority in the Tory target seat of Vale of Glamorgan.

'Complete distortion'

The dispute between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems flared over a health questionnaire.

Time and time again we have listened...as Lembit has stood up and called for politics to be cleaned up

Conservative MP Nigel Evans

Mr Evans, the Tories' shadow Welsh secretary, said the leaflets promoting local Lib Dem candidates were "extremely misleading and a complete distortion" of Conservative health policy. Mr Evans called on the leader of the Welsh Dems, Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik, to disown the leaflet and withdraw it.

'Crusade'

The Tories complained that Mr Opik had recently launched a "crusade" to clean up political campaigning.

Mr Evans said: "Time and time again we have listened in the House of Commons as Lembit has stood up and called for politics to be cleaned up."

Mr Opik responded: "We are only saying what Liam Fox, the Conservative health spokesman, had said already."

He said: "They can of course deny it, and say they don't intend to privatise what they call minor operations.

"But if that's the case then they need to explain what they mean by the many statements they have made which suggest a degree of privatisation would be introduced."

The Lib Dems quoted Dr Fox's comments in 2000, claiming that he had said insurance companies could cover high-tech or expensive conditions like hip or knee replacements, while treatments like cancer therapy would be left to the NHS.

1,200 voters

The opinion poll by NOP in the Vale of Glamorgan was carried out among 1,200 voters.

It suggested support for the Conservative candidate, David Melding could fall to 28%, down from 32% in 1999. Support for Labour's Jane Hutt was put at 42%, up three points from the first assembly election.

The poll suggested that Plaid Cymru's Chris Franks could receive 17% (down from 24% in 1999) and the Liberal Democrats' Nilmini De Silva 13% (up from 9%).

A poll suggests Labour's Jane Hutt could increase her majority

Elsewhere, Labour highlighted its pledges on children and families, including free breakfasts in primary schools and improving safety around schools by extending 20 mph zones.

'Flying start'

Education minister Jane Davidson said: "We want to give every child in Wales a flying start.

"We want to break down the barriers to learning and success throughout childhood. We are tackling child poverty and working to help our children grow up in safe, strong communities."

Plaid Cymru launched its strategy for older people in Wales.

The party said it would dedicate £20m to end home help charges for those in long term care and tackle age discrimination, as well as allocating £28m to increase contribution to independent care beds by £50 a week.

Plaid said waiting lists would will go down as care homes stayed open and people would get earlier treatment.