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‘Warped mindset’: Conservatives blast Drakeford for setting up constitutional committee but no Covid inquiry

19 Oct 2021 2 minute read
Russell George and Mark Drakeford

The Welsh Conservatives have responded to Mark Drakeford’s setting up of a committee to discuss Wales’ future in the UK but no Wales-specific Covid inquiry by accusing him of a “warped and out of touch” mindset.

The First Minister said yesterday that Boris Johnson has confirmed that there will be a “Welsh dimension” to the UK-wide inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the Conservatives said that rather than finding answers on Covid-19, Mark Drakeford preferred “naval-gazing over constitutional settlements”.

Referring to the independent Constitutional Commission set up by the Welsh Government, they said the First Minister would rather “examine the dangerous and economically illiterate cause of independence”.

Yesterday the First Minister has said he pressed Boris Johnson for a “guarantee” that the UK investigation would “properly examine” actions of the Welsh Government.

Mark Drakeford said: “Today I pressed the PM for a guarantee the UK covid inquiry would properly examine the actions of the Welsh Government and experiences of the people of Wales.

“The PM confirmed there will be a proper Welsh dimension to the inquiry and spoke of its importance to the whole of the UK.”

‘Scrutiny’

Responding, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said that the families of those who had died of Covid-19 in Wales deserved an independent inquiry.

“For the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay to both refuse grieving Welsh families a Covid inquiry to examine its actions during the pandemic and to push ahead with its constitutional commission in a matter of hours shows its mindset is warped and out-of-touch,” he said.

“Wales has the highest Covid death rate in the UK and over 8,000 people have tragically died during the pandemic, a quarter of whom acquired the infection in hospital. Their families deserve answers, and full, independent scrutiny of the decisions taken by Labour ministers.

“This should be the priority, not naval-gazing over constitutional settlements that will, unbelievably, examine the dangerous and economically illiterate cause of independence.

“Bereaved families, doctor groups, and lung charities are all calling on Mark Drakeford to accept the due scrutiny that every democracy deserves. Otherwise, the question will arise: what are Labour ministers hiding?”


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Huw Davies
Huw Davies
2 years ago

Independence is hardly more dangerous or even remotely as economically desperate as Brexit which has left the port towns of Fishguard, Pembroke and Holyhead in dire straits.

Last edited 2 years ago by Huw Davies
Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago
Reply to  Huw Davies

I agree, with the UK government at the moment everything boils down to Brexit purity. F**k business.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

Welsh dimension ! He probably meant the 4th dimension i.e. the past…do not believe a word that comes out of his mouth…he worries me does Mark, thinking about his memoirs maybe! Bite your tongue mab…

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

What are the warped Welsh Conservatives afraid of? Are they worried their puppetmaster in London’s “Project Wales Assimilation” is crumbling.. The agenda of fracturing our nation, then making each piece dependent on an English region unravelling. They know our devolution settlement is not fit for purpose anymore. And this Convention , as done with the 2011 Legislative powers referenda , which I might add, the Welsh Conservatives also didn’t want, will look for a way forward, and if this means Welsh independence, so be it. And If you deny Wales but allow Scotland will put you in the same league… Read more »

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

We should forget about Devo-max, it’ll never happen. Westminster will fight tooth and claw to even prevent a Welsh referendum on independence let alone allowing us to actually do it. Ultimately, we may even have to call UDI (Universal Declaration of Independence) to escape.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

While the UK crumbles, and the prospect of a united Ireland and an independent Scotland grows closer, the Tory party in Wales, want us to remain chained to that corrupt London institution called Westminster, where upwards of £37 billion was spread around friends and family of Tory ministers during Covid, while at the same time they voted not to feed starving children in England during a time of crisis, we are not allowed, in their eyes, to even investigate the possibility of doing the best for our country. This will not interfere with the running of government in Wales, as… Read more »

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

We in wales have got to kick all English party’s out of wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 we in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

The Welsh Government may not have got everything right regarding Covid-19 but they were far far better than the shambolic Tory lot in London. So instead of constantly calling for a Welsh inquiry the Welsh Conservatives should be asking themselves what went wrong in their own party, why was their response to Covid-19, in England, such as complete mess?

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago

Welsh Tories! What a drag you are! Why don’t you go live next door and drizzle?

Last edited 2 years ago by j humphrys

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