Ahead of Thursday's General Election vote, Labour's Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales, writes exclusively for the Guardian to lay out his views on what's ahead.

The Amman Valley runs through my blood. It’s where my family are from and has shape my politics and my values.

For too many people here like across the whole of Wales, the last five years has been a struggle. Energy bills have rocketed while wages have stayed the same, tax credits have been cut and VAT has burdened most those who can least afford it.

Carmarthenshire has felt the brunt of the Tories agenda as hard as anywhere else. Five years of broken promises from the Tories and Lib Dems who do not understand the challenges our communities face and have failed the people who live here.

That the Tories have spent the entire campaign trying to talk about anything but their record tell you all you need to know about what they think of how Wales has fared under them. For most people I speak to the Tory legacy is one of food banks and the Bedroom Tax. A legacy shrouded in unfairness and lacking in ambition.

I’m proud to lead a Welsh Labour government that has delivered on the economy. We’ve secured the highest ever levels of foreign investment, kept rates low for small business and helped thousands back into work through successful programmes like Jobs Growth Wales. Labour knows that Britain and Wales succeed when working people succeed.

What sets Labour apart at this election is that we have a plan that is rooted in fairness a plan to raise the minimum wage, axe the Bedroom Tax and use a Tax on Mansions over £2m to train 1000 extra doctors, nurses and frontline staff, and a bank levy that will allow us to double childcare for working parents of three and four-year-olds. Most importantly we’ll rebalance the economy so that it works for everyone, not just those few at the top.

The truth is that Wales cannot afford another five years of Tory rule. More than that Wales doesn’t want another five years of Tory rule. There is a majority in this country who agree on one thing – that the Tories with their extreme spending plans would be a disaster for Wales.

In reality only Labour can stop the Tories in this election. If you don’t want David Cameron back in Number 10 but you usually vote Plaid or Green or Lib Dem, then lend Labour your support.

On Thursday vote for Wales, vote Labour.