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Vaughan Gething calls on UK Government to take urgent action on economic challenges

17 Jan 2023 2 minute read
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething

The UK Government must urgently provide a stable, long-term strategy to tackle the urgent economic challenges facing Wales and the UK, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething will say today.

Mr Gething made the call ahead of the first UK Interministerial Group for Business and Industry meeting of 2023 – which will bring together ministers and senior officials from the Welsh Government, UK Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Following the meeting, the Minister will update the Senedd later this afternoon.

At Tuesday’s meeting the minister will call for a strong focus on sustainable growth that unlocks opportunities for Wales and ends an era of damaging economic centralism.

Freeports

He will also highlight the progress made in engaging in partnership with the UK Government on Freeports and the future of Borders policy.

The minister will also highlight significant challenges and concerns in areas including carbon emissions trading, the semiconductor cluster and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Gething said: “The UK economy is now in a worse position than any other G7 nation and economic centralism is part of the problem.

“Forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility and the Bank of England indicate unemployment in Wales increasing between 20,000 and 40,000 over the next 18 months. Inflation is expected to remain at around 10% over the first half of this year, and productivity is weak.

“The impact of soaring energy bills and inflation was intensified by the UK Government’s disastrous early autumn mini-budget which baked in preventable harm at the worst conceivable time.

“Last week’s announcement by Liberty Steel demonstrates UK government action is now essential, not optional.

“Wales and the rest of the UK needs the UK Government to develop a responsible and coherent strategy for sustainable economic recovery and growth.

“The lessons are clear – good engagement has the power to deliver stronger economic outcomes.  It is time for the UK Government to invest in partnership to develop a stronger Welsh economy in a fairer, more secure UK economy.”


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Wastemonster.Gov.UK the Downing St Dictatorship, Sunak and Hunt Rights and Asset Strippers and NHS Firesale Brokers…if you think you can make a deal with these liars and thieves you’re kidding yourself and us…

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Whilst I don’t disagree with your obvious dislike of Sunak and friends, it’s very easy to blame the Tories and Westminster for all our ills.
Economic development is a clear power and duty of the Senedd, perhaps some of your criticism might usefully be aimed in that direction.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

After 3 years on here I think I’m quite even-handed with my criticism, some never made it into print, like the direction of travel set by ‘the bay’, with a new hand on the tiller who knows…I personally think 23 years is a long time to be at the crease…

Exception is made for LSR whom I think Elfyn must be very proud of…

Someone on here suggested she could/should be the leader of the Senedd. I’m sure she would provide an honourable and well-informed not to mention exceptionally visible future First Minister…cheers Liz…

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

I also think that LSR is head and shoulders above all Welsh politicos. In my view she is wasted in Westminster, not least because she’d put a rocket into both Plaid Cymru (badly needed) and provide serious and questioning opposition (also badly needed) to our subservient, excuse making government.

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
1 year ago

How many times have I – and others – said this? Economic development and the tools to deliver it were written into the original Government of Wales Act; it has been a clear and unambiguous power of the Senedd since day one. The powers to “develop stronger economic outcomes” to quote the minister, lay with the Senedd and Welsh government. The reality is that the Welsh economy has been in decline since 1999, a clear economic development policy remains awaited after 25 years. It is the easiest thing in the world to cover one’s own deficiencies by blaming others –… Read more »

Cwm Rhondda
Cwm Rhondda
1 year ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

I agree the Labour Party in Wales has been happy to trot out the same old ‘blame the Tories’ narrative for at least the last 40 years. Even my local Labour councillors blame the Tories and the RCT Council Leader is begging for more money from the Tories. When will the elected politicians in Wales start to own our economic challenges and do something about them? Perhaps the Labour Party in Wales is afraid of Welsh Independence, because they’d have to do something about growing our economy instead of perpetually blaming Westminster!

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
1 year ago
Reply to  Cwm Rhondda

I think that the Labour party dominating Welsh politics, in the Senedd since it’s creation, has built in a level of complacency within the party. The Senedd does need new ideas and when one party has been in power for too long it can run out of those ideas. Welsh Labour should be doing better but on the other hand, and there is no getting away from this fact, it’s had just two dozen years to put right centuries of neglect and with meagre resources from Westminster. Yes, I think Liz Saville Roberts would make a fine First Minister.

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