AN ELECTION row has erupted after Plaid Cymru candidate Elin Jones claimed Liberal Democrat rival Elizabeth Evans’ campaign literature is “full of lies and distortion”.

The Lib Dems have sent a mock newspaper called the Ceredigion Chronicle to households all over the county.

It highlights ways the party claims Plaid are “letting Ceredigion down” and an election leaflet makes similar claims about Plaid’s “failures”.

The Lib Dems claim that Plaid plans to “centralise health services” running hospitals from Cardiff and “raise council tax”, would put Wales’ “economy at risk” with their spending plans. And they claim there have been “broken promises” to keep open local small schools.

But Miss Jones said the literature had “saddened her” and was “misleading”.

Ms Jones said: “It’s the worst possible kind of negative campaigning; full of lies and distortions.

“I hate this type of electioneering. I give this commitment to Ceredigion – for as long as I am an election candidate, and as long as I have anything to do with Plaid Cymru in this constituency, we will not sink to this level of negative campaigning.

“So to be clear – here is the truth; council tax is grossly unfair, and Plaid Cymru has published plans to make it fairer on those least able to pay.

“If the National Assembly decided, it could be of major benefit to 40 per cent of Ceredigion householders, and leave 47 per cent roughly as they are.

“Plaid Cymru’s plans to integrate health and social care would leave more decisions to be taken locally – not centralised.

“It saddens me that political opponents should try to mislead people in this way.”

Mrs Evans said she was “surprised by Plaid’s reaction and accusations.”

“It is an essential part of the democratic process that we debate the policies presented by parties, and Elin Jones has said that herself,” she said.

“We do not believe that we have misrepresented Plaid Cymru’s policy position on the specific policy issues highlighted by Elin.”

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