23/04/2017 BBC Wales Today

Good evening.

The Welsh Labour Leader says he would support the UK borrowing

an extra ?500 billion if the party wins the general election.

On a special leaders' debate programme on Sunday Politics Wales,

Carwyn Jones said "there's never been a better time to borrow".

Here's our political correspondent, Arwyn Jones

Today, for the first time since the election was called,

the leaders of the five main parties in Wales went head-to-head.

Top of the agenda - Brexit and the economy.

And for Labour's leader here, support for plans of ?500 billion

of borrowing to help give the UK economy a boost.

In 1945, a Labour government came in after the war,

when things were much, much worse than they are now,

when the UK was in a far more difficult state.

Yet it created the NHS, it made sure the economy was rebuilt.

It built houses.

All these things were done at a far more difficult time.

If they could do it, there is no reason why a Labour

government can't do it after June.

Two years ago, the Conservatives made a cast-iron promise

not to raise any taxes.

This time around, they are refusing to rule it out while explaining why

they are a low tax party.

People will not put in the time, they will not create

the opportunities in the economy, entrepreneurs will not invest

and ultimately you will see a contraction of the economy.

So we are the low tax party and we stand on that record.

What we are also about is making sure that the public

finances are in good health.

After much thought, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has tonight

announced she won't be standing in the Rhondda.

In a debate, she said Wales faces grave threats that

need to be defended.

We are under threat from an extreme Tory Brexit which risks pulling us

out of the single market.

That risks many jobs in Wales.

So as well as the future of public services and continued cuts,

people also face a downturn in their economic outlook.

Ukip have struggled to find their feet after the heady heights

of the Brexit referendum victory but insist there is still

a role for the party.

I intend to be a candidate myself to give a lead,

because elections for Ukip, are a work in progress always,

and one election leads to another.

And we are still building our support base and this is going to be

an important opportunity.

The Liberal Democrats are trying to appeal to those who voted remain

in the EU referendum and to rule out returning to a coalition.

We're not going to have a Labour government

at the end of this process.

We are not going to have a coalition government.

But it is very important that all the parties are very

clear on what is at stake and the Liberal Democrats will be

doing just that in the weeks ahead.

The opening round of leaders debates is over but with six

weeks until polling day, there's plenty more debating be had.

More than a hundred young farmers from Mid Wales have been caught up

in a fire at a hotel in Torquay, which police believe

was started deliberately.

It broke out in the basement bar of the Bancourt Hotel

just after midnight.

Three people were injured.

The young farmers from Brecnock and Radnor were staying

there for an annual convention.

A service to mark the 70th anniversary of one of Wales'

worst maritime disasters, has been held near Porthcawl.

On this day in 1947, 47 people died when the SS Samtampa

ran aground on rocks at Sker Point, after trying to sail

through a force 11 gale.

All 39 crew members died along with eight rescuers

from Mumbles lifeboat.

They talk about people having tar on their windows several miles

inland and the acrid smell of oil.

Children from schools being stopped from going

on the beach around, you know, Spring holidays, etc.

It was a devastating event.

Thousands of Welsh runners have been taking part

in the London Marathon today.

It was a very successful race for Swansea Harrier, Josh Griffiths,

who was the first UK athlete to cross the line.

But it was his team-mate, Matthew Rees who stole

the headlines, for helping a struggling competitor

cross the line.

Rees took hold of David Wyeth just over 100 metres from the finish

and guided him up The Mall.

He's been praised for epitomising the spirit of the race.

Someone had to help him.

I'm sure someone else would have if it wasn't me.

So, yeah, we both had run 26 miles.

We had to make that final 300 metres.

And the crowd were incredible and really helped me and him

get to the line too.

The weather forecast and tomorrow will be a cloudy day

with outbreaks of rain, which could be heavy

at times in places.

It should clear by the evening, with much colder air

moving in from the north, followed by a sharp frost.

Top temperature 13 Celsius.

That's Wales Today.

We're back in Breakfast with updates from 6.25am.

From me and the weekend team, goodnight.