Westminster’s ‘undermining’ of Wales shows Tories can’t be trusted as Welsh Government, say Plaid

The Conservatives’ “undermining” of Wales from Westminster shows that they can’t be trusted to form the next Welsh Government, Plaid Cymru have said.

Aberconwy candidate, Aaron Wynne said that the Conservatives in the UK Government had shown themselves determined to “undermine Welsh democracy” and “deny funding for our communities”.

He pointed to the HS2 project, which the UK Government has designated as an ‘England and Wales’ project despite no part of the track being in Wales.

Researchers at Cardiff University have said that Wales will lose out on half a billion in transport funding as a result.

Aaron Wynne also referred to the Shared Prosperity Fund which he said will provide Wales with only a fraction of the level of funding Wales received under the EU.

“After spending the past five years ruthlessly undermining Welsh democracy denying funding for our communities – from HS2 to the Shared Prosperity Fund – they should not be trusted anywhere near the levers of powers in Wales,” he said.

However, the Welsh Conservatives struck back saying that Aaron Wynne’s words amounted to a “weak pre-emptive manifesto attack”.

“Plaid want to abolish devolution and the United Kingdom, and risk our economic recovery with a reckless independence referendum,” a spokesperson said.

“This is the last thing Welsh workers, families and businesses need or want after the difficulties of the past 12 months.

“The sole focus of the Welsh Conservatives is on our positive plan to inspire Wales’ economic recovery, not constitutional chaos.”

‘Dodgy’

Aaron Wynne also took aim at the UK Government’s “shameful record” on public spending.

He pointed to the lobbying probe launched by the UK Government into contacts between the government and Greensill Capital, and a National Audit Office report from November 2020 that found that new contracts worth £10.5 billion were awarded directly without any competition. In March, a Court Order showed Boris Johnson misled Parliament over Covid contracts.

Aaron Wynne, said: “This is a party that has squandered billions of pounds in dodgy Covid contracts – leading to the Tories’ friends getting richer while others get poorer.

“With an ambitious programme to create 60,000 jobs, offer free school meals to all primary pupils, give a £35 weekly child payment to families, and train and recruit 6,000 extra doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, Plaid Cymru has the positive solutions to build a Wales that stands in stark contrast to the Westminster Tories’ destruction.”