Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Drakeford ‘gaslighting’ Wales by claiming UK Gov responsible for cost of living crisis says Andrew RT Davies

05 Apr 2022 2 minute read
Mark Drakeford and Andrew RT Davies.

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives has accused The First Minister of “gaslighting” the people of Wales by claiming that the cost of living crisis was caused by the UK Government.

Mark Drakeford said at Welsh Labour’s local election campaign launch that the cost of living crisis had crisis “not come out of thin air” and was caused by a “decade of austerity”.

But Andrew RT Davies attacked the comments, saying that “the First Minister is gaslighting Welsh people”.

“It’s thanks to Labour that wages are lower in Wales,” he said. “It’s thanks to Labour that young people are struggling to get on the housing ladder.

“You’ve been in power for over 20 years now, Mark. Time to take some responsibility.”

Speaking at the launch of Welsh Labour’s campaign at Bridgend College’s Steam Academy, alongside UK Labour leader Keir Starmer, Mark Drakeford branded it a “Tory cost of living crisis”.

“It has not come out of thin air,” he said. “A decade of austerity has undermined the capacity of hard-working families right across the UK to withstand the stresses and strains that are about to be vested upon them.

“It is a Tory government that decided in the spring statement only 10 days ago to say in the figures they themselves published that their decisions will result in… half a million more children across the United Kingdom living in poverty over the next two years.”

Keir Starmer added that there was now a “buzz” around Labour, as they lead in the polls for the first time in years.

“I say look at Wales, look as what’s happening in Wales, and you can see the difference before your eyes,” he said.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

24 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dave
Dave
2 years ago

well as a Tory. RT would know all about gaslighting #PartyGate anyone.

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
2 years ago
Reply to  Dave

Andre R2D2 is just a Fanny by Gaslight.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

Can someone explain to Andrew why tax increases and benefit cuts made by his mate Rishi are not Drakeford’s fault?
If he keeps on about the absence of levelling up and gross inequality across the UK, Gove is going to slap him.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

Brexit and the cost of living crisis linked, you need to be careful, Brit Nats and the Torys will not like that.

Llinos
Llinos
2 years ago

It isn’t gaslighting if it’s true. Who sets the interest rates? Not y Banc Cymru. Who raised the energy price cap? Who buys the energy “on behalf of the UK? Is energy cheaper in England?

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

Why is ARTD resorting to wokeish jargon ? Gaslighting ? As in lighting your own gas ? or someone else’s ? Boy needs to check out his use of English, use of such slang will not endear him to his masters at Westminster especially the well verbose like JRM !

CJPh
CJPh
2 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

Gaslighting is contemporary lingo, yes, a bit like “woke” itself. It isn’t a “woke” term, however. It’s actually quite a useful term. What RT has done is use it in the same way many Critical Social Justice adherents use it – incorrectly. You can’t claim that the people are being gaslit because of the reductive assumption that a global situation can be levelled at one domestic political party… Then point to another domestic party as the cause. These clowns are Gaslighting each other.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Here we go again. The mouth talks but nothing positive or sensible comes out.

How strange? No criticism from this Tory hypocrite Andrew RT Davies when his Whitehall master wasting a combined £61.5 billion on their failed Covid track & trace app , Furlough fraud & faulty PPE. He’s mute on the matter.

The Tories have been in power 12 years in London. And since then have wasted hundreds of billions. Ruined the Welsh economy with Brexit. Hindered devolution and Wales ability to function with their Tory toxicity. Best you stayed quiet Andrew. It’s your best feature.

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
The original Mark
The original Mark
2 years ago

Going by the tories behaviour I would suggest fatuous RT hasn’t got a clue what gaslighting is.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

RTs entire life purpose is to gaslight the people of Wales… He is a stain on our political landscape.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

You voted Brexit because of things Mark Drakeford had not yet done? The ever malleable, fits everything everywhere, Brexit argument.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Did you vote Brexit so that the Tories could break every promise made to Wales? 96% cut in the development budget. 40% cut in the farming budget. 2/3 of the levelling up funds going to Tory constituencies. 0.4% of the ports upgrade budget coming here. ZERO in the research budget announced last week. Refusing to devolve the crown estate. Refusing to cover the legacy costs of pre devolution issues. Making Welsh people pay for HS2. All this winning for the Welsh working class must fill your heart with joy.

Lyn Thomas
Lyn Thomas
2 years ago

Macro economic policy are UK government’s responsibility! The control most of our infrastructure expenditure and deny us access to the revenue from the crown estates….

Iorwerth ap Wyllt
Iorwerth ap Wyllt
2 years ago

The fact the Westminster holds ultimate authority over the Senedd means that either the Tory government caused the current crisis with austerity, or through their own inaction let the crisis happen.

To paraphrase Spiderman’s aunt and uncle, you can’t claim ultimate authority and then also absolve yourself of responsibility.

The fact that the cost of living is affecting every corner of the union should be enough proof that the party that has power over every corner of the union is responsible. Or is labour also responsible for the people in England who have to choose between heating or eating??

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

Stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s vote Plaid Cymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Wroe
Wroe
2 years ago
Reply to  Grayham Jones

your obviously back in the dark ages and never heard of democracy

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

Welsh Labour may have been in power too long and haven’t always got it right but if the Tories had been in power it would have been far far far worse. If you believe they are there for you please take a long long look at yourself in the mirror. The Tories care little for you.

Lorraine
Lorraine
2 years ago

RT is on a hiding to nothing if he attempts Tory culture wars in Wales. Because in Wales we have a culture, one we unite around, and which will never be destroyed by him and his unionist mates.

Man meirion
Man meirion
2 years ago

Remember when drakeford banned kids school clothes and stationary from the shops
No wonder he has now created a cost of living crisis. He doesn’t care about Welsh working class, nor does plaid.

CJPh
CJPh
2 years ago
Reply to  Man meirion

Yeah, THAT’S what did it. Quick, get to the phone. Stockholm are about to call you any minute to inform you that you’ll be getting a Nobel prize in economics.

Mab meirion
Mab meirion
2 years ago
Reply to  CJPh

Must have contributed though right?

CJPh
CJPh
2 years ago
Reply to  Mab meirion

Hey wumao/tankie/whitehall/bot/angry expat living in semi-rural Wales/self-hating welshman. From “created a cost of living crisis” to “must have contributed” after 1 burn kind of shows that you’re not worth engaging with. Your quick turn shows that you’re trying to split the pro indy commenters by getting non-Labour/liberal/right of centre supporters like myself to agree with you. Well champ, it’s back to troll school for you. No need to buy a uniform either, wear what you like. I believe slingkinis are in fashion…

Last edited 2 years ago by CJPh
Nobby Tart
Nobby Tart
2 years ago
Reply to  Man meirion

That was an initial idea by a Tory MS.

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
2 years ago

RT can blame a Labour Government for things after 20 years of their governance of an Independent Wales and not while his keep people poor party are underfunding us.

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.