Watch: Mark Drakeford and Andrew RT Davies clash in Senedd in extremely emotional scenes
The First Minister and the leader of the Welsh Conservatives have clashed in emotional scenes at the Senedd.
Mark Drakeford’s voice trembled with emotion as he erupted at Andrew RT Davies over his criticism of the Welsh NHS.
Andrew RT Davies had quoted a member of the public who had said that Wales was like a “third-world country” when it came to healthcare.
Mark Drakeford angrily defended NHS workers: “You have chosen to use that language here this afternoon. What do those people face? They face cuts to their pay because of the policy of your Government, and now they face cuts to the budgets that the health service itself will have at its disposal.
“It is shocking. It is absolutely shocking to me, but you will think that you can turn up here this afternoon with a mess that your party has made to the budgets of this country to the reputation of this country around the world.
“You think you turn up here this afternoon and claim some sort of moral high ground? What sort of world do you belong in?”
You can watch the full clip of the heated scenes below:
The First Minister became upset after Andrew RT Davies had asked him a question about long ambulance waiting times.
Andrew RT Davies had earlier referred to the case of Keith Morris, of Merthyr Tydfil, who had been waiting for an ambulance on the floor in pain for 15 hours after a fall.
“You haven’t said once in response to my two questions, the solution that the government is proposing to take this pressure out of the ambulance service and allow them to get on with the job that they do, which is a fantastic job when it works correctly,” Andrew RT Davies said.
“Now what I want to leave this chamber understanding is what the roadmap from the Welsh Government is, as we go further into the winter months to alleviate these problems, so that in Aneurin Bevan will not be turning in his grave, and a government that is responsible for the health service has a solution to the problems.”
Llywydd Elin Jones had to bring proceedings to a pause.
“I understand that the arguments and the feelings run high on these issues from a variety of perspectives,” she said.
“I understand some of the shouting taking place, but I won’t have people pointing in anger and just sticking and gesticulating in anger at other people.
“Can we just take a moment just to calm down?”
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He had every right to be angry, something seldom seen in the Labour Leader, usually s very calm, considered man. The Tories have destroyed every bit of the UK’s credibility, finance, and standing on the International stage.Destroyed the lives and hopes of many British people, which ever Country they may live in. The last month has been utterly disastrous for most families up and down the UK.
A reasonable question on Welsh NHS management made farcicle by coming out of a particularly potato head tory.
Not seen him get so cross before but who can blame him when every week he has to put up with these arrogant Tories who look down on most Welsh and their party selfish ideology has destroyed all but the rich of the UK.
Trouble is Mark Drakeford is right they have cut the budget year on year for Wales and the whole of the U K for the N H S its all part of their plan to sell of the N H S to the yanks he and is correct Mark Drakeford is spot on the Tories are irelevent in Wales and come the General election the Tory filth will be wiped out and also in the U K
And yet STILL Y Prifathro is a Unionist. He STILL sees ARTie’s masters as our “insurance policy”.
Come over to the side of free Cymru Mark. We have crempog!
Yeah, but what about the “UK” being an INSURANCE POLICY, Drakey boy?
Some insurance policy! What other colony adopted such a supine attitude to their “masters”?
Indeed – The Wales and Berwick-upon-Tweed Act of 1746 declared and enacted “that in all cases where the kingdom of England or that part of Great Britain called England, hath been or shall be mentioned in any Act of Parliament, the same has been and shall henceforth be deemed and taken to comprehend and include the Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.”
It is the great conundrum of Wales – that someone it got “assimilated” into the Kingdom of England rather than union with England.
After 12 years of austerity, which even Boris said was wrong, the current chancellor, who butchered the NHS during his time in charge, now says we must prepare for cuts in services. With this, A R T Davies now attempts to pass the blame for the whole mess on Cardiff, without a hint of irony. Our Gov is not perfect and has made errors in the past, but to work in the straight jacket imposed by his own Tory party is impossible. As ever, it is never the fault of the Tory party, or its policies. The gall of this… Read more »
Where I agree there should be scrutany and criticism of Mark Drakeford & Welsh Labour regarding their failings in government do find it ironic seeing England’s NHS is flatlining , the very 3rd world system currently being privatised by stealth the Welsh Tories want Wales to blindly follow & ape. The antagonistic Welsh Tories conveniently ignore how Whitehall cuts to our block has a knock-on affect the very Welsh NHS and other services they attack which is typical of a lawless party who continually run away from their responsibility. Just look at the chaos his nasty party in London are… Read more »
Well done Drakeford, it is about time these Tory bastards are held to account for all the pain and misery they have caused all over the UK for far too long now.
The time is getting close, people can only take so much before human nature takes over.
Do not forget the excess needles deaths caused by tory cuts they have blood on their hands
Millions are probably wondering who runs the “UK”.
I can’t help but admire Mark Drakeford as a human being, despite his unionism, and seeing his righteous anger here does nothing to harm my admiration. Nonetheless, his unionism condemns Wales to suffering under tory governments time and time again. He thinks we just need to hold tight until labour get back in to westminster? When labour get back in to westminster, it’s not going to be because they’ve won the great british public round to the idea of a fairer, more just society. They’ve done nothing to actually make their case, nothing to change people’s minds. They’ll get back… Read more »
Given Davies’s complexion I’m not surprised that he has a keen interest in ambulance waiting times.
It waa great to see his passion and human side of Mark D instead of the academic and measured Wales public face of Labour in Wales.
It was sad however to see it in answer to a fairly legitimate question
from ARTD that to be fair – reflected public concern.
See the question was valid, I agree. But it was delivered, wrapped in pompous rhetoric and ideological Tory fallacy.
If someone credible asked the question in good faith, it would have been answered in good faith.
But Re-Tweet’s puce-faced bloviating and blustering demanded exactly the response it got, from a man 100x more the statesman than the Squire of St Hilary Juxta Cowbridge could ever dream of being.