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Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams says Wales’ billion-pound borrowing powers should be used to build 20,000 new homes - and not to upgrade the M4.

Plans have been hatched for a new relief road around the Newport stretch of the motorway , which is frequently congested.

Business leaders and haulage firms say a new road is needed because repeated traffic jams are damaging their trade.

However, Lib Dem leader Ms Williams believes Wales’ newly acquired borrowing powers can be put to better use.

Launching her party’s election campaign on Tuesday, she said: “Labour’s decision to use all of its borrowing powers and over a billion pounds on the M4 sums up everything you need to know about their priorities.

“People in north Wales are not getting a fair deal.

“We would use this money to build 20,000 new homes, building them across the whole of Wales so everyone will benefit.”

While the Lib Dems would have to pull off a major upset at the ballot box go from the Senedd’s smallest party to its largest, Ms Williams insists they still can be a key player.

Given the Assembly’s “dual” election system - mixing constituency and regional seats - forming an outright majority has proven elusive for any party since the institution was created in 1999.

Speaking at Gladstone’s Library in Flintshire to party activists, Ms Williams added: “We used our influence in the Assembly to stop work on the M4. Mark my words: the Welsh Liberal Democrats would do so again.”

However, during a keynote speech last week First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones insisted the relief road was “an economic necessity for Wales”.

And ahead of the Assembly’s dissolution earlier this month, Mr Jones’ government published a draft order which would allow ministers to press ahead with the plans quicker if Welsh Labour won May’s election.

Addressing the failures that have taken place at Betsi Cadwaladr, Kirsty Williams said: “Under Labour’s watch, North Wales is the only region with a health board in special measures. People have been let down and are rightly frustrated.

“Time and time again we have seen complete failures of all the systems that should be in place to protect our most vulnerable people.

“The current system is not fit for purpose. The Welsh Liberal Democrats would establish a new health watchdog that is fully independent of the Welsh Government.

“Never again can horrendous scandals like at Tawel Fan be allowed to happen.”

Tawel Fan:

(Image: Matthew Horwood)

Discussing the party’s message heading into the election, she added: “The fact is that after 17 years in office, people recognise that the Labour Government still fails to get the basics right on our public services.

“People want good schools, good hospitals and a vibrant economy – a strong future for Wales.

“Our number one message in this election is that we’re listening. People have told us their priorities and we share them: more nurses on hospital wards, smaller class sizes for our children, and an Opportunity Economy to help people get on. We will deliver a Wales that works for you.”