Election 2015: Labour offering 'hope' despite cuts

A Labour government at Westminster will offer voters hope after some "tough" spending cuts in its first years in office, the first minister has said.

Launching its Welsh election campaign in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, Carwyn Jones said Labour would only make initial cuts of 2%, compared to 20% by the Conservatives.

"What the Tories are offering is five years of endless austerity," he said.

Wales would be better off with Labour-run UK and Welsh governments, he added.

The party launched its campaign in a seat - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr - it hopes to take from Plaid Cymru.

"For five years Welsh Labour has had to stand up for Wales against the damaging cuts of the Tory-led government in Westminster," Mr Jones said.

Owen Smith (centre) and Carwyn Jones (right) launch Labour's Welsh campaign in Ammanford

"The respect agenda we were promised by David Cameron was a sham and Wales has lost out as a result. This election gives us the chance to have two Labour governments working together in the interests of Wales.

"That is a future we need to fight for over the next few weeks - a future of co-operation, not more cuts and more conflict."

The party was launching a five-point pledge card promising to balance the books without extra borrowing, raise living standards, change immigration rules, spend the proceeds of a mansion on tax on 1,000 more staff in the Welsh NHS and double childcare provision for three and four year olds.