Parties trade insults on day one

Peter Hain leaves Downing Street after the announcement

Welsh political parties began trading blows as soon as official confirmation of the general election on 5 May.

Labour claimed the Conservatives would "penalise the people of Wales" with £35bn of cuts in UK spending plans.

Tories said Britain could afford "world class public services" and promised value for money and lower taxes.

Plaid Cymru accused Labour of having lost trust and lied over Iraq, and Liberal Democrats said the government was "tired and authoritarian".

After weeks of unofficial campaigning, the parties were well prepared for Tony Blair's announcement he had asked the Queen to dissolve Parliament next week.

It's important people understand that if they want a Labour government, they need to vote Labour Peter Hain, Labour

Yvette Cooper, parliamentary secretary in the office of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, was the first minister to visit Wales, touring a shopping centre in Colwyn Bay.

Her Labour colleague, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, said people had a choice between "a Labour government delivering for Wales and a Tory party committed to £35bn of cuts in spending plans over the next few years which would penalise the people of Wales."

Mr Hain said: "Make no mistake. This would mean fewer nurses, fewer teachers, fewer police working in communities than Labour plans.

"It's important people understand that if they want a Labour government, they need to vote Labour," he said.

Elfyn Llwyd said Plaid Cymru was free to stand up for Wales

Mr Hain also claimed a protest vote by Labour voters could "let the Conservatives in through the back door".

'Taken for granted'

Conservative Caroline Spelman, the shadow minister for local and devolved government affairs, said Mr Blair had delivered eight years of broken promises and another Labour victory would lead to "another five years of talk".

"Hardworking families - honest people who do the right thing, who respect others, who provide for their children, who look after their homes and contribute to their local communities - are being taken for granted by Mr Blair," said Ms Spelman, speaking in the Vale of Glamorgan.

As the fourth wealthiest country in the world, Britain could afford "good local schools and clean hospitals," she said.

We want a freer, fairer Wales, and we have the policies to deliver just that Lembit Öpik, Liberal Democrat

"We will reward hardworking Britons who do the right thing by giving them value for money and lower taxes."

Plaid Cymru began its campaign at a mosque in Cardiff and parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd claimed the choice was between "New Labour candidates who would be forced to follow party orders set in London" or Plaid candidates "free to stand up for the interests of Wales in Parliament".

'Undermined international law'

Mr Llwyd said Labour had promised to cut hospital waiting times in Wales, but one in 10 people were now on a list.

He also claimed Labour had lied over the reasons for the Iraq war, which had led to the deaths of an estimated 100,000 Iraqi civilians, and "undermined international law, the United Nations and parliamentary democracy".

Mr Llwyd said the UK government had also "reneged" on a promise that it would not introduce top-up fees for students.

Lembit Öpik, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said his party promised a "positive, progressive future".

"Do people want four more years of an increasingly tired and authoritarian Government by the old parties?" Mr Öpik asked. The Lib Dems, he said, offered "a future with free health care for elderly, no tuition fees or top-up fees, and no council tax. We want a freer, fairer Wales, and we have the policies to deliver just that.

Mr Öpik said the Lib Dems had the best package of policies of any party, which would make Wales "better and stronger".

Labour won 34 seats in Wales in 2001, Plaid four, and the Lib Dems the other two.