Jessica Morden Labour

Newport East is a constituency with a strong Labour tradition and a bright future. If elected I would work hard to stand up for Newport East and be a strong voice both locally and nationally.

Newport East has a promising future under Labour. It's easy to forget the state Michael Howard's Tories left us in when Labour was elected in 1997; we suffered the poll tax, cuts to schools and hospitals, high unemployment, and families who lost their homes due to high interest rates.

Labour has delivered much to improve life for local people since 1997. Unemployment has almost halved in Newport East and around 1,760 people have got jobs thanks to the New Deal scheme. Labour in Westminster and the Assembly has invested millions of pounds in our schools and hospitals. Across Wales there are 5,200 more nurses, and 350 more doctors are working in the NHS. We've seen record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools and our best-ever set of school results.

In Newport East, the winter fuel allowance warmed the homes of 14,610 pensioners and Labour is helping all pensioners to enjoy a decent and secure retirement, including £200 to help pay council tax. The Child and Working Tax Credit have helped 6,700 families across the constituency and we have a rising minimum wage.

But there is still much to do to improve people's day-to-day lives. In Newport East we must promote the city of Newport and keep building the local economy, encouraging well-paid jobs, tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, ensure dignity and security for all our pensioners, and better facilities for young people.

The choice at this election is clear. Forward with Labour or back with Michael Howard's Tories to soaring interest rates and 3 million unemployed. In Newport East alone their plans would mean a cut of at least £50m from our public services - future investment that our schools and hospital so vitally need.

Don't throw your vote away on the Lib Dems. They voted against police having the power to tackle anti-social behaviour and teen gangs. They want to scrap Labour's Baby Bond scheme. They can't win this election - a Lib Dem vote can only help Michael Howard into 10 Downing Street through the back door.