Reform UK would be ‘catastrophic’ for businesses, Welsh First Minister says
A Reform UK government would be “catastrophic” for businesses, the First Minister has said.
Speaking at the TWI Technology Centre in Port Talbot, Baroness Eluned Morgan dismissed comments made by Nigel Farage over the weekend that his party would be focused on supporting businesses.
“We want to use every devolved power we possibly can to make the lives of small businesses and other bigger businesses easier in Wales,” the Reform UK leader told the BBC’s Politics Wales programme.
“And that is what we’ve got to devise for our manifesto coming up for May, to say we’re actually on the side of people working and people having jobs.”
‘Frightened’
Lady Morgan said she is “frightened” of the impact of a Reform government on the economy and how this might affect Welsh companies.
The First Minister was in Port Talbot to announce a new £547 million funding pot from the UK Government to create new jobs and boost productivity.
The Local Growth Fund is set to replace money that previously came from the European Union and decisions about how it is spent over a three-year period will return to Wales.
It will be used to support people into work, help create and grow Welsh businesses in key sectors, boost investment in areas such as artificial intelligence, and address issues holding back growth, such as energy efficiency.
Status quo
Lady Morgan said: “This is a really important injection of money that will go into our communities.
“What I’m interested in doing is looking to the future… How are we going to use AI technology to advance our economy and make sure people in our communities have the skills for the next generation economy.
“We’ve got to really recognise that the world of tomorrow is not going to be the same as the world of today.”
“We’re using a huge number of powers that are available to us (to support businesses),” she added.
“I am very focused on growing the economy – that’s why we’re going to be hosting an investment summit in December, bringing some of the top companies in the world to Wales to give them the confidence to invest in our nation.
“I think (a Reform government) would be catastrophic for business.
“What business wants is a stable economic and regulatory framework, what they’ve had over the years is that, and a Reform government, I think, might really scare the horses.
“I’d be very frightened about what the consequences of that might be on the economy of Wales.”
In the interview with Politics Wales, Mr Farage said it was “too early” to make specific policy announcements.
“But all I can promise you is it’ll be very different to the status quo of the last quarter of a century,” he added.
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
To be frank another 5 years of Labour in charge in Wales will be just as bad as what she says about Reform. It seems Labour is dismissive of Plaid I hope it comes back to bite them massively. I suspect this was going to be an announcement in the upcoming budget but has been brought forward in the hope that Labour might just gain some traction in upcoming by-election and in Mays, Wales wide election, don’t fall for this flim flam. There will be an army of special project officers most with links to Labour very much like the… Read more »
Others say Plaid is a different version of Labour. Which of course is utter nonsense.
If by “a different version of Labour” you mean “not right wing extremists” then that might be true.
You think Plaid are a different version of the Green party?
You might be the first to call the Greens right wing. Are you a Communist?
For a forecast, Trump and Tate fan Farage brought us Brexit and race riots. He is a wrecking politician with no sense of normality and a politician bought and paid for by some serious climate change deniers and now anti vax. Then there is the Russian question, Farage has fluffed for Putin on numerous occasions. How deep are they into a political owned company that uses crypto.
The far right will be out in force if he gets power. And they are evil.
Very true.
UK and Welsh Labour are already catastrophic for business.
Not any more. The definition of “catastrophic for business” was redefined by the f-business party and their self-sanctioning misadventure.
True but deform will just be catastrophic, cataclysmic even.
… and too many of our commenters seem quite content with that state of affairs.
Brexit eh.
Opps.
I forgot, we are not allowed to mention Brexit. What will all the limitations we inflicted on ourselves. Don’t forget, they need us more than we need them we were told.
Yes, Brexit was a disaster; but Welsh Labour has had absolutely no interest in wealth creation for 26 years. Problem is that they don’t understand that this is how public services are funded.
Before any of you support reform, a Party FOR Millionaires run by Millionaire’s look at their Agenda, Remove the NHS and replace with USA type paid Insurance system, which bankrupts many Americans every year. Also remove job security protections , holiday and sickness pay rights. Then State Pensions-should not be a right. . All learned from the USA. model., thats why he spends so much time over there. Farage dodges tax as much as he can despite being the highest earner in Parliament due to outside interests. His latest scam is to flow Chinese. made shirts with his signature on… Read more »
Reform are just a wrapper for Farage’s ego and Nomad Capitalist backers. “GO WHERE THEY TREAT YOU BEST Their tax avoiders drumbeat . Wales just a place to harvest votes Those that do enter the Senedd under a Reform ticket will be totally controlled by Westminster Farage wheeling in ex Tory MP ” Jones the Jag” to provide fresh thinking says it all Maybe look at Jaywick most deprived place in the UK in Farage’s constituency for a steer Promised much, ,Delivered SFA Abandoned , No surgeries undertaken by Farage A community which has lost its voice. Rinse and repeat… Read more »
Self inflicted disaster from Elunid Morgan and Co. Wales has gone downhill with the Welsh Red Way minority for many years. The list of inadequacies ranges from not spending their full budget to promising zero child poverty at the last election . Can’t think of anything that has improved in our lives of the last five years .