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Mark Drakeford ‘intensely relaxed’ at reports of lifetime ban from north Wales pubs

20 Dec 2023 2 minute read
First Minister Mark Drakeford. Picture by the Welsh Government.

Mark Drakeford has said he is “intensely relaxed” about reports that he faces a lifetime ban from a series of pubs in north Wales.

The First Minister, who recently announced he would step down by March, also said the publicans behind the ban were not in “any danger” of him visiting.

After Mr Drakeford announced his intention to resign last week, Phil Ashe, chairman of Llandudno Pub Watch and vice-chairman of West Conwy Pub Watch, claimed the First Minister would struggle to find a pint in 90 pubs in north Wales.

Relaxed

Asked by the PA News Agency what he thought about the ban, Mr Drakeford said: “I find myself intensely relaxed at this.

“They are not in any danger of me visiting, so they can be relaxed as well.”

Mr Ashe previously said he and fellow publicans were “extremely happy” to hear the news of the Welsh Labour leader’s resignation, and claimed retail and service businesses had become a “punching bag” for his policies.

He cited Covid restrictions on hospitality businesses and the new default 20mph speed limit in built-up areas among issues influenced by Welsh Government.

Mr Ashe told the BBC’s local democracy reporting service: “Mark Drakeford is not welcome in our pubs, and he never will be because of the damage he caused all the pubs during the pandemic.

“We currently have 90 odd members, and Mark Drakeford is still barred.

“Most pubs and businesses are still struggling because of him.”


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32 Comments
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Jeff
Jeff
1 year ago

Yeah, well, I ban ARTD from visiting my house.
There.
That will learn him.
Pubs and business were clobbered by covid and the worst UK government that we have ever seen.

Catherine
Catherine
1 year ago

It’s alright, he can come and blaze with me any time he likes.

Wynford Jones
Wynford Jones
1 year ago

So, they have ninety “odd members”. Do they have any normal ones?

hdavies15
hdavies15
1 year ago
Reply to  Wynford Jones

Some more odd than others. Sad really that a large area like that can’t muster a collection of sane landlords.

MARK ELLIS MADDOCK
MARK ELLIS MADDOCK
11 months ago
Reply to  Wynford Jones

I bet they’re all English landlords as well!

G Horton-Jones.
G Horton-Jones.
1 year ago

Cofiwch Spartacus

I am immensely proud of my name Mark Drakeford as I am equally sure any other self respecting Welshman would be

Refusing to serve us would be catastrophic to your business

End the UK
End the UK
1 year ago

Lol sometimes mark you are the goat. People give you stick because you make the hard decision.

People just want populist drivel dripped into their ears and it’s why we got the clown show in WM.

At least you showed these fool you have a back bone

Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas
1 year ago

Thankfully I don’t live in Conwy, if Mr Drakeford ever pops into my local I’ll buy him a pint.

Peter Cuthbert
Peter Cuthbert
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard Thomas

Perhaps this little affair should be a pointer as to why we have Tory MPs along the North Coast. I cannot understand why publicans would wish to have high urban speed limits. At slower speeds one gets to see the signs more easily and so could stop and bring the publican business.

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
11 months ago
Reply to  Peter Cuthbert

Always thought the Tories were bonkers.

It is called shooting yourself in the foot with a brexit bullet.

Ieuan Evans
Ieuan Evans
1 year ago
Reply to  Richard Thomas

And I’ll buy him the second

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
1 year ago

Do we have a list anywhere, of these pubs??

Rhddwen y Sais
Rhddwen y Sais
1 year ago
Reply to  Dai Rob

Try all of them.

Llyn
Llyn
1 year ago

How has the 20mph speed limit impacted on pub finances?

Jeff
Jeff
1 year ago
Reply to  Llyn

Press release from the Welsh Cons explains it all very clearly.
“something something stop the boats something something boats something Boris is great something something foreigners grrrrr”

Wynn Coleman
Wynn Coleman
11 months ago
Reply to  Jeff

😂 Perfectly described delusional Tories.

Rhddwen y Sais
Rhddwen y Sais
1 year ago

He would be for he can do no wrong.

Cranogwerdd
Cranogwerdd
1 year ago

“He cited Covid restrictions on hospitality businesses and the new default 20mph speed limit in built-up areas among issues influenced by Welsh Government.”

It’s always good to know which side business owners are on when it comes to *checks notes* evidence-based policies designed to save people’s lives.

Wynn Coleman
Wynn Coleman
11 months ago
Reply to  Cranogwerdd

In addition to the hidden (by most mainstream media) fact, that the speed limit had been pushed at some point by all parties. But once implemented, it became Welsh Labour’s fault.
This labour blaming is so bad, a woman on LBC stated the other day, that (for whatever she was complaining about – probably small boats), that she blames, BOTH our governments, Labour and conservatives. She actually believed that Labour are currently implementing policies.
We need to start teaching politics in schools. Urgently.

Draig Cymraeg
Draig Cymraeg
1 year ago

y dyn yn pidyn gwirion, dim ond marw os gwelwch yn dda.

Last edited 1 year ago by Draig Cymraeg
Cranogwerdd
Cranogwerdd
1 year ago
Reply to  Draig Cymraeg

Pob lwc gyda’r dysgu, ai sypôs.

Tanwg
Tanwg
1 year ago

Could someone please name these pubs so that I can boycott them.
Why have they also not banned Boris Johnson & his corrupt, entitled , lying cronies who caused over230,000 additional deaths during covid.

Alex
Alex
1 year ago

I don’t think you get it! If he comes into any of our northern pubs he will get his head kicked in. He is the biggest idiot that has ever graced our poor country.
Go and sit in a nursing home and wither away Mark you dithering old biddy!

Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
11 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Other than the comments section on Nation Cymru I don’t recollect speaking to anyone who is supportive of Mr Drakeford.

Tanwg
Tanwg
11 months ago

Will someone please name these 90 pubs, they need boycotting.

Alex
Alex
11 months ago
Reply to  Tanwg

Prawf cyflym wyt ti’n gymraeg? Fyddwn i ddim yn poeni am foicotio, dim ond aros yn eich swigen southen!

Gwion Llwyd
Gwion Llwyd
11 months ago
Reply to  Alex

Cau hi, con’

Colin Thomas
Colin Thomas
11 months ago

While the ban is symbolic it shows the level of distrust and outrage of a man quite universally despised in North Wales even among the Labour faithful. There is a serious divide between North and South Wales and this rift is getting bigger because of the Welsh Government and politicians like Drakeford who do not understand Wales from North of the Valleys and West of Swansea. The 20mph is a masterclass of deceit and hoodwinking which will only make us poorer in the long run. There is no democracy in Wales, Labour have remained in power through legacy voting and… Read more »

Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
11 months ago
Reply to  Colin Thomas

Spot on Colin, the new voting system will make it virtually impossible to remove Labour from indefinite control of The Senedd.
Yes I understand the sentiment from Gogledd Cymru towards the Senedd, however to say West of Swansea should mean West of Cardiff West Service Station on the M4 as there are many people in the rest of South Wales who see Cardiff as a City state within a Nation.

Peter
Peter
11 months ago
Reply to  Johnny Gamble

I’m afraid your correct, it does appear that youngsters will be voting Labour, maybe it’s because they want to pay them £1500.00 a month for not working. And of course after 21 years they can collect their benefits.
With Labour in charge and no improvements made to our infrastructure large companies are going to give Wales a miss for the next fifty years.

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
11 months ago
Reply to  Johnny Gamble

Reply to Colin and Johnny, Plaid Cymru is sits as an opposition party and not officially part of the Welsh government. The Libdems did put a member Kirsty Williams in the Welsh cabinet in the last government. In both cases this was to influence the government on behalf of the majority of the people of Wales to get a better Wales. If you are really serious about an alternative government for Wales then you should support the only party capable of beating Labour in Wales which is Plaid Cymru. Or the Lib Dems or Greens, if you feel they are… Read more »

John Ceridwen
John Ceridwen
11 months ago

Did anyone miss his greeting of the Clintons some weeks back, and the interesting new 2.5bn Microsoft investment in Newport? To name but a few eyebrow raising developments… No wonder he’s so relaxed, he has been paid off and sold us down the river, our once proud nation is now a husk and no-one cared to notice. They have destroyed our communities and broken our nation. He is at least as bad as Thatcher ever was. My Social policy degree qualifies me to make this observation. Wales has finally been conquered after millennia of resistance, shame on us all.

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