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Welsh and Scottish government offer to take more Ukrainian refugees a ‘power grab’ says conservative commentator

17 Mar 2022 3 minute read
Mark Drakeford. Picture by CPMR – Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CC BY-SA 2.0) Nicola Sturgeon picture by Arctic Circle (CC BY 2.0).

The Welsh and Scottish Government’s offer to take more Ukrainian refugees is an attempt at a “power grab” according to a conservative commentator.

Writing on Conservative Home, Emily Carver, who is Media Manager at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said that the UK Government had provided “provided tremendous military and humanitarian support” to Ukraine.

But she took aim at the Welsh and Scottish governments offers to take become ‘super sponsors’ taking more refugees, suggesting that it was a way of taking control of the scheme from the UK Government.

The Welsh Government has offered to take 1,000 refugees and the Scottish Government 3,000 as part of the ‘super sponsor’ scheme.

“The Scottish and Welsh first ministers have already announced their desire to become ‘super sponsors’,” Emily Carver said, “which may well signal more of a power grab than an intention to ameliorate a scheme that Nicola Sturgeon has disparaged as ‘beset with bureaucracy and red tape’.”

She also noted that some had queried “why the Government has been shelling out millions of pounds of taxpayer money on hotel accommodation for those crossing the channel, while now relying on the goodwill of the British people to house those fleeing war in Europe”.

She added that any move to “liberalise” the refugee policy further should “come with caution”.

“Housing supply in this country has reached crisis point; over six million people are waiting for treatment in the NHS, while welfare payments and taxes are set to rise as the Government battles with the squeeze on the cost of living,” she said.

“While free market reforms to liberalise planning and improve the NHS might go some way to easing these pressures, one cannot ignore the reality that there is little political will to do so.”

On Monday Michael Gove said in the House of Commons that he had talks with the Welsh Government about the ‘super sponsor’ plan and was open to it.

“I was grateful to the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales for their generous offer to act as super-sponsors, and we are doing everything we can to facilitate that,” he said.

“My officials are working with those in the Scottish and Welsh Governments to ensure that we can do that in a way that enables everyone to live up to their responsibilities.”


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Llefain
Llefain
2 years ago

Just… everything they say is…

This person’s head is on backwards.

George
George
2 years ago

The Media Manager at the Institute of Economic Affairs lists several reasons why having a Tory government for 12 years is a bad thing then tries to suggest that a Tory government is the way out of the quagmire.

I know it’s published on a Tory website but surely they realise they’re telling a lie.

Arwyn
Arwyn
2 years ago

Power grab? Wales’s sovereignty resides at Westminster and is exercised by a government with no democratic mandate in Wales who regularly and deliberately undermine our democratically elected Welsh Government.

That’s a “power grab”.

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

How is it a power grab if Wales’s powers are determined by Westminster?

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
2 years ago

Power grab accusations from a supporter of the arch power grabbers. She goes on to talk about a housing crisis which is exacerbated by holiday homes left empty, a practice described by Tories as ‘inward investment’. More jaw dropping tripe.

Cynan
Cynan
2 years ago

Tories just don’t understand humans do they?

Ieuan Evans
Ieuan Evans
2 years ago

I think she must have her head up her a**e

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