So…having read all six manifestos, what stands out that might help you, a creative entrepreneur or small business owner in Wales, place your vote in two weeks time?
Here’s what they’re promising:
CONSERVATIVES
Investment in rail electrification, broadband roll out and rail upgrades
Increasing tax-free personal allowance to £12,500
Exempting those working 30 hours on minimum wage from paying any income tax
(Quirky one: Bidding to bring Commonwealth Games to Wales)
GREEN
Increase investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency
Stabilize and tightly regulate financial sector
Split investment banking from high street banking
(Quirky one: Introduce an immediate 10% cut in rail fares)
LABOUR
More employment and training opportunities for young people in Wales using bank bonus tax
Help to up to 91,000 small firms to take on extra workers
Bringing forward investment projects to stimulate jobs and growth
(Quirky one: Temporarily reversing Vat rise)
LIB DEMS
Raise tax-free personal allowance to £12,500
Balance budget fairly to build a high skill, low carbon economy, with emphasis on Marine Renewables
Electrification of South Wales Valleys Lines and rail link to Heathrow
(Quirky one: Research into reopening Carmarthen to Aberystwyth train line)
PLAID
Increased business rates relief in Wales and reduced business rates
50,000 new jobs by giving more Welsh public sector contracts to companies working in Wales
A Welsh Development Bank to create good credit lines
(Quirky one: Ynni Cymru: national resources and energy into public ownership, as well as railways and Severn Bridges)
UKIP
Raise tax-free personal allowance to £13,000
EU funding to be replaced by UK Government funding
Increase 40% tax threshold to £55,000
(Quirky one: Removing Vat from listed building repairs and sanitary products)
NOTE TO PARTY MANIFESTO WRITERS
If you don't mind us mentioning it, quite a few of your ideas overlap, like the Welsh Development Bank.
Often in business what gets measured, matters. So vague description doesn’t rock it for us.
You sound silly when you over – promise.
In business, people often use a ‘rule of 3’ in communication, identifying the top 3 priorities, clearly and measurably.
You’re aiming to lead us and that means giving us a clear steer: some of these manifestos are more like slinkies than signposted routes…
But we know you're working incredibly hard currently and your efforts progress democracy - so thank you.
YOU CAN PREDICT YOUR VOTE HERE!
CAST YOUR VOTING PREDICTION
What party in Wales is most likely to help makers like you?
Conservative Party
Green Party
Labour Party
Liberal Democrat Party
Plaid Cymru
UKIP
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