Plaid Cymru pledges 50,000 new jobs through public contracts for Welsh companies in election manifesto

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood says her party will "unleash Wales’ economic potential" in the event of a hung Parliament after May’s election.

Speaking at the launch of the party's manifesto "Working for Wales" in Bangor, Wood said only Plaid Cymru has Wales’ interests at heart.

The party says it could create 50,000 jobs through more public contracts for welsh companies.

Plaid's manifesto has three priorities at the election:

  • Securing parity of powers and resources for Wales with Scotland

  • Ending austerity

  • Rebalancing the UK economy with targeted investment

Nicola Hendy reports from the manifesto launch in Bangor:

Plaid Cymru says it would not prop up a Tory government or back a Labour administration to implement austerity and Trident replacement. At the launch Leanne Wood said her party would work with the Greens and the SNP in the event of a hung parliament if it was "in our interests".

Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood launching the party's manifesto. Credit: ITV Wales News

Asked about her party's positioning in the event of a hung parliament, Ms Wood told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that it would work with the Greens and the SNP if it was "in our interests".

She added: "There's no way that we could support the Tories in government, absolutely not. Wales has never given a mandate for the Tories to rule over us and it's highly unlikely that they will next time."

She said Plaid Cymru has a "very close" relationship with the SNP, is in regular contact and has a lot of common ground. She added: "It makes sense for both our parties to continue working together."