Keir Starmer tells Rishi Sunak to ‘follow Welsh Government’s example’ with Budget
Keir Starmer has urged Rishi Sunak to follow the example of the Welsh Government when he announces his Budget tomorrow.
The Labour leader urged the UK government to adopt a targeted approach to support, pointing to the Welsh First Minister’s decision to cap its Covid business rates relief, making those with properties with a rateable value over £500,000 ineligible.
This freed up £100m for its Economic Resilience Fund and enabled grants to 2,000 small businesses, Keir Starmer said.
The comments, reported by LabourList, came ahead of Keir Starmer’s virtual visit to Wales on St. David’s Day as part of the party’s ‘spring forward’ event.
He made the comments as the Chancellor is expected to use tomorrow’s budget to announce additional support for businesses hit hardest by the pandemic.
A £5bn fund will be available to help high street pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops that have remained closed as a result of the lockdown.
The Treasury has also announced that they will invest an additional £93m in Wales to “turbocharge” a green recovery which the chancellor Rishi Sunak said it would help Wales “pave the way to a greener future”.
The Welsh Government responded by saying that they would wait and see whether it was new money before responding.
They today announced their own budget, revealing a further £682m of support mainly to help the NHS and local authorities tackle coronavirus.
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