‘Welsh democracy not safe in the hands of the Tories, warns former First Minister

A former First Minister has warned Welsh democracy is “not safe” in the hands of the Tories.

Labour MS Carwyn Jones branded the Welsh Conservatives as an English nationalist party and accused it not speaking out when Bristol Airport received £8 million from the UK Government, while Cardiff Airport did not get anything.

Mark Drakeford’s predecessor also claimed that the same process was underway in Scotland.

Mr Jones said: “They are rapidly becoming an English nat party both in England and in Wales. It’ll be Scotland next. Democracy in Wales and Scotland is not safe in their hands.

“Airports are not devolved. The UK govt. refused to do it. They have given money to airports in England but not in Wales. Bristol gets £8m, Cardiff gets nothing. Not a word from the @WelshConserv.”

Bristol is one of six airports in the South West of England to receive an £8 million grant from the UK Government. The others include Bournemouth, Exeter, Isles of Scilly, Land’s End and Newquay.

The grant is equivalent to the business rates the airports would otherwise have to pay – which means the airports will pay nothing in business rates in 2020/21.