Drakeford should ‘respect’ Boris Johnson’s office, says Tory Senedd leader  

Mark Drakeford should “respect” Boris Johnson’s office according to the leader of the Tories in the Senedd.

Andrew RT Davies was responding to remarks made by the First Minister where he described the UK Prime Minister as “awful”.

Drakeford was heard saying “he really, really is awful” following a call with Boris Johnson in a fly on the wall documentary of his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the programme Prif Weinidog Mewn Pandemig (First Minister in a Pandemic) on S4C Mark Drakeford is seen dialling into a COBRA conference call to discuss the closing of the border between the UK and France on 21 December.

In response to the remarks Andrew RT Davies said: “This might play well with the nationalists ahead of coalition talks but I’m not sure this is a good look for Labour’s First Minister.

“Over half a million Welsh people voted for the PM, so while you might not like the rosette on the lapel, there should be respect for the office.”

‘Three months’ 

The meeting between the First Minister and the Prime Minister in the documentary was the first in three months.

Boris Johnson is heard saying: “Thanks everybody for joining this call. I think we must urgently look at the implications of the travel ban that some of our European friends have imposed.

“We will hear from Mark Drakeford and… various others.”

Mark Drakeford is heard to scoff and then say “Dear me, he really, really is awful,” as the meeting comes to an end.

“Imagine that some deadly new variant of the virus had been discovered in France and they were trying to persuade us that there was no need to take any action to stop French lorry drivers from driving across the continent!” he says.

"Dear me, he really, really is awful"

Mae hi wedi dod i'r amlwg fod y Prif Weinidog Mark Drakeford wedi beirniadu Prif Weinidog y DU Boris Johnson yn dilyn cyfarfod COBRA cyn yn Nadolig.

Cafodd y sylwadau eu darlledu mewn rhaglen ddogfen ar S4C nos Sul. pic.twitter.com/n44ZgIdHON

— Newyddion S4C (@NewyddionS4C) March 8, 2021

An aide then asks him: “Do you need any minutes from that meeting?”

To which he replies with contempt: “No, I don’t think there’s anything at all. Other than wringing our hands in a sense of despair.”

Mark Drakeford is asked earlier in the programme about his relationship with Boris Johnson and says they have nothing in common apart from having studied Latin.

“The government in London, they see the world, and they see the UK, through the eyes of London,” he says.

“Sometimes that doesn’t work for us. If we have to do what they want us to do in London there’s no point to the Senedd here in Wales.