Boris Johnson invites Drakeford to ‘meeting to discuss shared challenges’ after big election win
Boris Johnson has written to Mark Drakeford to a meeting to discuss their shared challenges in tackling the Covid-19 crisis.
The Prime Minister said that he would be writing in similar terms to the First Minister of Scotland, and the First and deputy First Ministers of Northern Ireland.
In the letter, he said that he was looking forward “to working with you in the years ahead in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect to serve the people of Wales”.
“We both share a belief in the enormous potential of our United Kingdom — both to be a force for good in the world and to be an engine of security and prosperity for its citizens here at home,” he said.
“People across the UK, and in particular, the people of Wales are best served when we work together.”
He added that “you have rightly made COVID recovery a priority”.
“To that end, I would like to invite you to join me, UK Government colleagues and others at a summit meeting to discuss our shared challenges and how we can work together in the coming months and years to overcome them,” Boris Johnson said.
“We will all have our own perspectives and ideas – and we will not always agree – but I am confident that by learning from each other we will be able to build back better, in the interests of the people we serve.”
‘Awful’
Boris Johnson added in the letter that the vaccine programme was “Team UK in action, and I recommit the United Kingdom Government to working with the Welsh Government in this cooperative spirit”.
Mark Drakeford, who won a 30 seat mandate a Thursday’s election, has been critical of Boris Johnson’s lack of communication in the past.
The First Minister Mark Drakeford was heard saying “he really, really is awful” following a call with Boris Johnson in a S4C fly-on-the-wall documentary of his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He has also accused Boris Johnson and the UK Government of “thinly hidden assaults” on Wales’ ability to make decisions for itself.
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So Johnson now wants to talk, how interesting. Why doesn’t he look back at history and learn from it. When Gladstone wanted support for Irish home rule the Tories didn’t want to talk then and look what happened!
Better late than never perhaps but much water has gone under the proverbial bridge. So radical constitution change Mr Johnson is what you need to talk about including devolving power to northern England and finishing the reform of the House of Lords which began in 1911 once again with Tory opposition!
Mark, do not trust him, he is the most divisive PM ever .its about indy it is not covid as he would have you believe. Sturgeon has already thrown his offer back at him because she does not trust him .I would have indy as a back up because he doesnt like devolution and the tories are coming for it.
All Drakeford has to say is “bring an open mind and don’t forget your wallet cos we have a big shopping list here that needs funding – infrastructure, health and education for starters”.
…with the additional point that Cardiff Bay, not London, decides how the money will be spent.
Johnson’s panicking and so he should. But the Tories have done their worst and must now reap the consequences. History book 2030 – the last Prime Minister of the UK was Boris Johnson…
Boris didn’t want to talk at the height of covid. He repeatedly skipped meetings. Why now. Could we be a Trojan horse perhaps?