WILLIAM Hague is due to arrive in Monmouth today as he launches the Tory manifesto in Wales.

The Conservative Party leader is the first big gun in the election campaign to arrive in the Gwent constituency which is to to be one of the key Labour-Tory battlegrounds. Mr Hague will join Roger Evans on the campaign trail in the constituency.

Labour's Huw Edwards, who is defending a majority of 4,200 from 1997, will be expecting similar big-name help in coming weeks. MEP Glenys Kinnock has already added some political star-status to his campaign. Mr Hague is also holding a press conference in Cardiff. He has been a regular visitor over the past 18 months.

The Conservative manifesto for Wales will mirror the tax cutting agenda announced for the UK, but with particular Welsh details including a commitment to making Welsh optional for school children between 14 and 16-years-old.

In Cardiff, Plaid Cymru launch their manifesto today at the Hilton Hotel. Ieuan Wyn Jones will be putting their case for greater expenditure in Wales and upgrading the Assembly to a "proper parliament" as in Scotland.

Renationalisation is also on the agenda with Railtrack the target. Party officials have been talking up the socialist nature of Plaid's beliefs.

The Liberal Democrats will be attacking Plaid in an attempt to win over those Plaid voters who supported them at the Assembly election as a protest against Labour.

A new website will be launched highlighting the reasons why the party believes that voters, and Wales, would be better off switching from Plaid Cymru to Welsh Liberal Democrat in a UK-wide General Election. Their manifesto will be formally launched this week. Like Plaid, they will be campaigning for greater powers and higher funding for Wales.