Business rates should be based on companies’ profits, Plaid Cymru said this week. The party says that the existing "unfair" system should be scrapped to help small businesses flourish.

The call came from Plaid's Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire candidate, John Dixon, who has already outlined the party's views in recent election hustings meetings. The party's leader, and Wales'

Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, has also called for the change during recent visits to small businesses in Wales.

Mr Dixon said: "In order for Wales to succeed, our home-grown businesses must succeed. Successive London governments have introduced policy after policy that has stifled the success of our small businesses.

“London Labour has failed to reverse the unfair business rates system imposed by the Tories when they were in government.

"The Plaid-driven Welsh government is doing all it can to lessen the burden of business rates on small businesses. But fundamentally Plaid believes that the system is unfair and taxation should be calculated according to the profit a business makes.

"Unfortunately as things stand this can only be changed at a Westminster level."