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Welsh Government need to ‘do their job’ says Johnson after disgraced MP calls on him to brand devolution a ‘disaster’

20 Jul 2022 3 minute read
Rob Roberts and Boris Johnson at PMQs

Boris Johnson has said that the Welsh Government need to “do their job properly” after a disgraced MP called on him to brand devolution a disaster.

Speaking at his last ever PMQs before being replaced as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said that he wanted “devolution to work” but singled out Welsh Labour for criticism.

Independent MP Rob Roberts, who has lost the Conservative whip for sexually harassing a member of his staff, had called on Boris Johnson to use his final opportunity at the dispatch box to condemn devolution.

“Mr. Speaker, in September it will be the 25th anniversary of the referendum on devolution in both Scotland and Wales,” Delyn MP Rob Roberts said.

“One in 20 people in England and the NHS have been waiting for more than a year – in Wales, that’s one in five. And school leaders in Wales 75% of whom say that they don’t have enough capital to maintain their existing buildings regardless of building the others.

“In his final opportunity at the despatch box, will the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Union agree that in terms of Wales at least, devolution has been a disaster?”

Boris Johnson responded to say: “I want devolution to work. I think and I’ve had some good conversations with Mark Drakeford.

“But the devolved authorities, particularly labour in Wales, need to do their job properly.”

‘Failing’

Meanwhile, Ian Blackford has thanked Boris Johnson for driving support for Scottish independence to “new heights”.

The SNP Westminster leader told the Commons: “His Tory Brexit slashed £31 billion from the economy, the biggest fall in living standards since the 1970s. People’s pay in real terms falling at the fastest rate on record, with the worst economic growth forecast in the G20 outside of Russia and the highest inflation in 40 years.

“Personally, I would like to thank the Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister of the Union for driving support for independence to new heights.

“Westminster is holding Scotland back. The economy is failing and this Prime Minister has driven us to the brink of recession. Isn’t it the case that the Prime Minister’s legacy of catastrophic mismanagement has paved the way for the end of the Union?”

The Prime Minister noted “that’s not what I observed”, adding: “I am afraid to say, Scottish school standards are not what they should be because of the failure of the SNP.

“They are failing people who are tragically addicted to drugs. And the people of Scotland are facing another £900 million in tax because of the mismanagement of the SNP.”


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Andrew Thomas
Andrew Thomas
2 years ago

Please kick this pervert out at the next election

Dai Rob
Dai Rob
2 years ago

Pervert.

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

Correction: Labour is a disaster, not devolution.

It is deeply irresponsible to keep on blaming devolution for the failures of the Welsh Labour Government, and Rob Roberts should know better.

It creates divisions as to where anyone opposing the Welsh Government’s policies could be misinterpreted as being anti-devolution. Furthermore it also gets Welsh Labour off the hook.

Arwyn
Arwyn
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

The Tories view devolution as a Labour fly in the ointment, a barrier to their rule over their dominion and a threat to their UK. In their conceptualisation of the UK it is an aberration. They’re not reasonable people so any attempt to berate them falls on shamlessly stony ground. They have become nationalists with an evangelical zeal.

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago

Dear old Fay Jones sitting in the background, looking completely lost and totally out of place. Just HTF do these people get to represent us, really doesn’t say much about the people who put them there, (is that an oxymoron?)

Arwyn
Arwyn
2 years ago

Because the Welsh Labour hierarchy would rather Wales be governed by the Tories so that occasionally we can contribute to forming a Labour UK Govt. They believe that it’s preferable to a Welsh Nation State.

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

Roughly 44% of those of voting age in B&R were born in England. The rest of her voters are just nasty sods.

The Original Mark
The Original Mark
2 years ago
Reply to  Kerry Davies

Although that may have some bearing on the subject, there’s a hell of a lot of tory supporting farmers around Brecon, and despite what the tories have done to them, they will continue to vote tory,

R W
R W
2 years ago

Rather laughable when you consider that the current Westminster Government is probably the most disastrous and incompetent government anywhere in the world!! Perhaps Rob Roberts would like to call out Tim Westwood for being a sex pest while he’s at it!! Roberts really is an odious little man.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

How this man has the gall to stand up and make pronouncements following his actions, where if he had any scruples, or morals, he would have resigned, and furthermore endorse while a MP the denial of sufficient funds to the devolved Govs, by the party that threw him out, who he was elected to represent, is a disgrace. A truly odius creep.

Evans
Evans
2 years ago

As Harry H Corbett in Steptoe and Son with a London accent YOU DIRTY DIRTY OLD MAN

Marc
Marc
2 years ago

Tory pervert calls devolution a disaster, nobody cares what you’ve got to say, resign and seek help

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

The levels of hypocrisy by pervert Rob Roberts knows no bounds. Devolution isn’t the problem, it’s you and those in Whitehall who since 2010 has caused so much damage to our Welsh economy with their chaotic misrule, Senedd interference, and their unfolding Brexit disaster. And may I remind him also that Whitehall controls many of Wales functions & levers of state still but like Conservative cowards omit any responsibility or blame when things go pear-shaped preferring to blame devolution instead. Won’t wash anymore Rob Your time as an MP will soon be ending. And good riddance to you. Wales needs… Read more »

Kurt C
Kurt C
2 years ago

Devolution has proven to be effective, even with funds witheld. Unlike the disgusting mess of Westminster, that is pointless. The Senedd has done much more in policy that I agree with than don’t. Meanwhile Tories make excuses to carry on their hell

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

RR cuts a lonely figure walking through Molds street market most weeks. Folk can be seen looking the other way and I guess he is counting the days to the next election and new employment opportunities. Where as BJ made several high profile to Wrexham and coastal Clwyd,…..Delyn is a no go area with General Truss and Rich Rishi focused in Ukraine and London .

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

One bloated perv poses daft useless question to a bloated deviant – is that what democracy is about ?

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