Kinnock's voter apathy campaign

Tory campaign leader Nigel Evans talks to the press

Labour in Wales has stepped up its campaign to guard against voter apathy in the general election.

Wales Euro MP Glenys Kinnock has been out campaigning in Cardiff on Friday underlining how easy the government has made it for people to vote by post.

Ever falling turnout at recent elections has made the government consider alternative methods of getting people to turn out on polling day.

Glenys Kinnock: Campaigning against voter apathy

For the first time in this general election, postal votes are available to everyone who wants them.

Mrs Kinnock, wife of former Labour leader Neil, visiting a Cardiff travel agent, said:

"People gave their lives to ensure we have the right to vote

"If you are a busy parent, elderly or ill, you can now register for a convenient postal vote up to eight days before the election and not have to go to the polling station to cast your vote."

Political campaigning in Wales is entering a weekend lull before four weeks of intensive electioneering begins on Monday

The Liberal Democrats, guarding their two rural seats in Wales, have turned their attention to helping voters affected by foot-and-mouth.

In another move designed to get people out to vote on June 7, the party has launched a web site including postal vote application forms and addresses for where to send them.

The Liberal Democrats have launched this website

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Richard Livesey also called for long term measures to guard against future outbreaks of foot-and-mouth - including more support for local abattoirs and more rigorous inspection of meat and animals coming into the country.

The Welsh Conservatives meanwhile have set out their stall to try to capture a swathe of seats in Wales.

After failing to win any Westminster representation at the 1997 vote, the party's "hitlist" in Wales extends to eight Labour held seats - including Monmouth and the Vale of Glamorgan - and two Liberal Democrat ones.

The Welsh Tory campaign leader Nigel Evans, hosting the party's first election news conference in Cardiff, said the promise to take 27p off a gallon of petrol has caught Labour on the back foot.

"The Labour Party are so worried they are leaking their own manifesto in a desparate attempt to spin that they will not increase direct tax," said Mr Evans.

He also warned that the Welsh Secretary's job was under threat under Labour.

Elfyn Llwyd: Dismissed Labour's pledge card

"With the Prescott Formula promising 'blood on the carpet' in Wales, we need a Secretary of State for Wales fighting the corner for the Barnett formula and fighting the corner for Wales."

Plaid Cymru have launched their campaign in Wales on Friday promising " one-cast iron pledge - to fight back for Wales and for our communities that have been abandoned by successive old Tory and new Labour goverments.

The party's parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd dismissed Labour's Welsh pledge card as a gimmick.

He said Plaid was aiming to increase its number of MPs and to increase its share of the popular vote in Wales.