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Welsh elections 'litmus test' for Tories
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| Nick Bourne |
Next May's Welsh elections have been described as a "litmus test" for Conservative success across the UK.
Shadow Wales secretary Cheryl Gillan said: "By winning seats across Wales next May we can show the rest of the party the road back to power at Westminster.
"The assembly elections are a litmus test for Conservatives not just in Wales, but across the United Kingdom.
"We are winning the argument and setting the agenda in every corner of Britain by focusing on the issues that really matter to the public."
And also speaking at the party conference in Bournemouth, Tory assembly leader Nick Bourne promised to "push the boundaries of devolution as far as they will go".
Bourne said the elections would be a "watershed" for the party, adding that voters only faced a choice between the Tories and Labour.
"It's them or us. No other party makes the grade," he said.
Last week Wales secretary Peter Hain indicated Labour are planning a similar electoral strategy of trying to marginalise the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, declaring the elections would be a "bare-knuckle fight with the Tories".
Bourne said the Conservatives in Wales would devolve more power to the local level and would offer more choice in public services.
He also said the party would review the Welsh Language Act as part of the party's commitment to creating a "truly bilingual Wales".
"Local control, individual choice, bilingualism, sustainability, enterprise and innovation - this is our vision for a modern, progressive, dynamic Wales," Bourne added.
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