UK Government slammed over lack of support for Welsh businesses
Figures obtained by the Welsh Liberal Democrats have shown that Wales has received less post-Brexit support for small businesses than any other UK nation – and almost half the amount of funding received by Northern Ireland, which received the next lowest amount.
This is even though Wales has a population of 3.1 million compared to Northern Ireland’s 1.8 million.
The information obtained from a response to a written question by Sarah Olney MP to Lucy Frazer, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, shows that across the UK less than half of the £20 million post-Brexit Government fund to help small businesses deal with new rules for trading with the EU has been handed out to companies.
Out of the £8.4 million that has been handed out England has received £7.2 million, Scotland £476,539, Northern Ireland £434,234 and in Wales just £230,159.
In 2019, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Wales accounted for 62.4% of employment and 37.9% of turnover.
‘High and dry’
The Welsh Liberal Democrats say the figures show that the Tories have “shamefully left many small Welsh businesses high and dry” and have called on Rishi Sunak to reopen the fund during his budget next week.
Party Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “Smaller firms have continually borne the brunt of both the pandemic and the government’s botched Brexit deal. The Conservatives are shamefully letting down the backbone of the Welsh economy.
“Instead of offering small business owners support to help them get back on their feet, ministers are clobbering them with a manifesto-breaking tax hike in the form of national insurance rises.
“The Government must relaunch this fund, significantly increase its budget and appoint a new SME trade minister to listen to the concerns of small businesses. It must also significantly increase its engagement with Welsh businesses to make them aware of the fund.”
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While the figures, the UK Gov figures, not some made up figures, show how we are let down by London rule, all we hear is Tory MS and MP’s moaning and talking down our own Government, and blaming everything on Cardiff, while totally ignoring fact. The sooner we leave this unequal disunited kingdom, the better for all of us, even unionists would be better off, if only they could see it.
Why aren’t our Labour MPs jumping up and down in parliament about this and what about the 500 million from the crown estate that they take off Wales and let Scotland and Ireland keep theirs the only party to make a protest was the Welsh nationalsts
We aren’t going to get any extra. Full stop. Perhaps this will eventually make the Welsh LibDems realise that any thing to do the Union is a waste of time and that includes federalism. Post Brexit Wales will only get poorer as part of the Union, this is not on, we’ve had enough neglect – time to make our own future.