NO
CAMPAIGN LET-UP AS POLL NEARS
Source:
BBC News
Pub date:
Saturday 23 April 2005
Subj: No campaign let-up as poll nears
Web: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/wales/4476837.stm
Cited: Legalise Cannabis Alliance http://www.lca-uk.org/
Political parties in Wales began the penultimate weekend before the
election by campaigning on a range of issues.
Labour launched a 10-point plan for rural communities, while the
Conservatives held an "action day" campaigning in their key target
seats.
Also on Saturday, Plaid Cymru launched a poster on NHS waiting lists,
while the Lib Dems campaigned in Cardiff.
The Legalise Cannabis Alliance Wales launched its manifesto, calling for
the legalisation of cannabis.
The party is fielding seven candidates across Wales.
Poster campaign
Labour launched its 10-point plan for rural communities in Wales,
pledging to tackle economic and social disadvantage in rural areas, extend free
bus travel and develop affordable housing policies.
Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said: "Improved travel
services, more environmental protection and local solutions for local problems will
form the cornerstone of our rural campaign."
Plaid Cymru launched a poster campaign calling for an end to waiting
lists on the NHS in Wales.
The posters, titled "No more waiting for the NHS", were
unveiled in Llanelli on Saturday morning.
The Welsh Conservatives held an "action day" in all their
Welsh target seats, including Monmouth and Clwyd West.
The party targeted voters in its key seats with leafleting and
door-to-door canvassing.
The Welsh Lib Dems spent Saturday campaigning locally in key Cardiff
seats.
Renewable energy
As well as its core aim of legalising cannabis, the Legalise Cannabis
Alliance released a range of policies at its manifesto launch in Rhyl on
Saturday afternoon.
Party candidates will campaign against GM crops and call for a lower
rate of duty on diesel for haulage and transport firms.
There was a manifesto appeal for more efforts to be made to recycle
waste products, and for the development of renewable energy to be made a
priority.
The party called for cannabis and cannabis products to be removed from
the Misuse of Drugs Act, claiming the move would generate tax revenues and
enable the police and the legal system to use resources on combating serious
crime.
Jeff Ditchfield, of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance, said: "We propose
that cannabis should be removed from the Misuse of Drugs Act and legalised
immediately.
"By re-legalising cannabis, we will generate revenue for the
economy, we will generate revenue that can be raised in taxes and can then be
used in public services."