WILLIAM Hague returned to Monmouth yesterday and promised the area's voters an end to the council tax rises of the last two years.

Since the Assembly was created the taxpayers in the Monmouthshire council area have seen one of the highest percentage rises in council tax, provoking angry protests at the Assembly. Speaking exclusively to the Argus - the only paper allowed access to the Conservative leader - Mr Hague said if he became prime minister, he would give people a vote to overturn such rises. "The aim of people locally being able to put a stop to council tax increases is a very popular one. Whether it's council tax or petrol tax, people know the only way to get that down is to have a Conservative government."

Labour attacked Mr Hague over his record as Welsh Secretary. The most recent occupant of the office, and leader of Labour's campaign in Wales, Paul Murphy said: "His record in Wales is a guilty secret. Nursing numbers were cut, libraries were closed unemployment rose, and class sizes for primary school pupils rose to over 30."

But Mr Hague emphasised the positive. "Public expenditure increased and we brought record numbers of manufacturing jobs, farm incomes were several times higher than they are now," he said.

Later, Mr Hague joined former MP and current candidate Roger Evans in Agincourt Square to address a mostly Tory crowd, littered with curious children, Labour spoilers and a couple of young men in William Hague masks.