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First Minister accuses UK government of ‘continuing to steal powers and money away from Wales’

05 Jun 2021 3 minute read
Mark Drakeford at the four nation summit. Picture by the Welsh Government.

Wales’ First Minister has accused the UK Government of continuing “to steal powers and money away from Wales.”

In an interview with LBC’s Matt Frei yesterday, Mark Drakeford explained how the governments of Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland had been holding “respectful” weekly meetings to discuss the latest news about Coronovirus.

However, the First Minister said: “In other contexts, the UK Government continue to steal powers and to steal money away from Wales.”

Matt Frei then said: “That’s quite an accusation” and challenged Mr Drakeford to “give examples.”

‘Influence’

Mr Drakeford said: “We have had in the whole period of devolution, powers in Wales to make decisions about regional economic develeopment inside Wales. We have had money that’s come to Wales and those decisions have been made here in Wales.

“Yesterday we had a visit from a UK Secretary of State who knows very little about Wales and has no responsibilites for Wales at all. And he came to tell us that from now on he will be making those decisions.

“He’ll be making them in Whitehall; he will be using powers that belong here; he’ll be using money that should be here and people here in Wales will have no influence over those decisions. That really is the reversal of the way things ought to happen and shows that, while in some aspects, and the coronovirus virus is a better example, but in other places – this is a UK Government that continues not to respect the history of devolution and the decisions that the people of Wales made in two separate referendums to have those decisions made here on their behalf.”

Matt Frei then asked Mr Drakeford: “Can you tell us what money this Secretary of State is talking about?”

Mr Drakeford replied: “This is a ‘so-called’ Shared Prosperity Fund – a fund which previously those funds would have been at Scotland, Northern Ireland and Welsh levels and made by ministers elected by people in those countries.

“Now that money is being collected into this ‘so-called’ Shared Prosperity Fund – there’s less money in it by the way than Wales alone would have had under the previous arrangement – and from now on, a Secretary of State in Whitehall will make those arrangements. And really that is absolutely not acceptable to us in Wales and it fuels those people that believe Wales would be better off outside the United Kingdom.”


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

What are we waiting for? Someone to lead us! Elfyn Llwyd are you busy…

Padi Phillips
Padi Phillips
2 years ago

How long, Mr Drakeford, will it be before the scales fall from your eyes and you see that the only way is independence?

Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Padi Phillips

Give it 2 years and he’ll be ‘the only way is Indy’ in public. The way he’s speaking now, I think he is preparing the ground for this. In about a year’s time – maybe shorter – the ultimatums will start.

Michael Rieveley
Michael Rieveley
2 years ago

There have been two referendum in Wales that gave a democratic mandate for a devolved government. The current UK government stance is to override the choice of the Welsh people and turn back the progressive devolved administration to concentrate power and choice away from Wales to a centralized and distanced Westminster. It is ridiculous to even suggest that Wales or any other region of the UK should not have right to funding from the UK as constituent part of that union. The unwillingness of the UK Government to engage with the devolved governments and regional areas will only drive a… Read more »

O Rob
O Rob
2 years ago

Anyone who believed that the UK gov would honour their promise to maintain the EU level of funding in Cymru after brexit were both naive and gullible beyond belief

David
David
2 years ago

Region?? I dont think so wales and scotland are countries in a so called “union”

defaid
defaid
2 years ago

“… and it fuels those people that believe Wales would be better off outside the United Kingdom.”

awe would.

Mark, look around you. It doesn’t need fuel, just leadership.

Last edited 2 years ago by defaid
defaid
defaid
2 years ago
Reply to  defaid

‘We’, sorry. Not ‘awe’.

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago

He has the ability as much as anyone currently. Perhaps we should try kindness? I’ll sit on his head, Dai will twist his arm and Bugs tickle his ribs (apologies to PG Wodehouse).

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  j humphrys

BTW looking at the Cruddas revelations, we could get Indy for half a million?

Mick Tems
Mick Tems
2 years ago

It’s quite simple: Wales should gain independence from arrogant Tory thieves and tricksters NOW, or else it will be too late.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

Look, Drakeford has to realise there is going to be no compromise – the UK government will do what it likes. It will think it can get away with it just as it’s got away with so much else recently. The only way out is independence before we get shat on any further.

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

Agree. And when we talk, it should be in bigger terms; Eurasia…………Belt and Road.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

D-Day: A thought for all our countrymen who perished this day for the freedom of others!

A thought for the poor, hungry and thirsty…Boris Johnson…Death is thy middle name!

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Why was this site linked to two Russian social media platforms and has anybody else spotted that?

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

Yes First Minister we know what they are doing. The question is what are you going to do about it? I suggest you take a deep breath and face the truth, the UK = London Establishment class bound arragance and we are sick and b**ody tired of them.

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Quornby

Fidel Castro got in a jeep, and drove across Cuba, talking to his people. I’m not a socialist, but that’s the way to go, Mr Drakeford. Do it on your holidays. We are getting annoyed and restive by all this crap from Westminster!

Last edited 2 years ago by j humphrys

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