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‘Whose side are you on?’: Conservatives ‘want to celebrate cuts to Wales’ says Economy Minister

04 Nov 2021 3 minute read
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething. Picture by Senedd TV.

The Economy Minister Vaughan Gething has accused the Welsh Conservatives of wanting to “celebrate cuts to Wales”.

Yesterday, the Welsh Government accused the UK Government of “levelling down” Wales as it was revealed that the country would get £329m less this year than it would have received from the EU if it was still a member.

Wales will receive £46m this year. Had Wales and the UK remained in the EU, we’d have received £375m.

Speaking in the Senedd, Conservative MS Laura Anne Jones however asked the Economy Minister to “join me in recognising the good work of the UK Government in its extremely generous budget and investing in Wales once again”.

Vaughan Gething replied that calling Wales’ funding settlement a “generous” was “absolutely extraordinary” and “factually simply wrong”.

“What we have seen are cuts to Wales from the levelling-up funding,” he said. “It’s undeniably the case. The money is being cut, but the Conservatives here want to celebrate that.

“That is just extraordinary, and more than that, the reality is that the recent budget does not replace the money taken away during austerity. In real terms, we will do not much more than flatline on revenue, but in capital terms, we’ve seen a real-terms cut over the last period in the spending review.

“That is what Laura Jones and the Conservatives want to celebrate. It is appalling, and I really do say to Conservatives in this place: whose side are you on?

“Are you on the side of the people of Wales who are having money cut from them, from the businesses that won’t have the support they would otherwise have? Are you on the side of those people who need training, the skills, the apprenticeships, the money that previously supported them?

“Are you on the side of innovation and research, which have been cut because of the way that the UK Government have refused to engage with us and the cuts to the funding that would be otherwise available?

“At this point in time, you’re on entirely the wrong side. Do your job and stand up for Wales.”

The Welsh Conservatives however said that the £46 million was another example of the UK Government’s commitment to levelling up Wales.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Culture and Tourism, Tom Giffard MS, said that the “fantastic new fund just goes to show how committed the UK Conservative Government is to helping people in Wales”.

“As we start working to help our economy bounce back from the pandemic, it is vital that we boost people’s skills to help them into employment and support local businesses,” he said.

“This fund builds on the success of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget last week when he announced an investment of more than £121 million directly into communities in Wales and an extra £2.5 billion a year for the Welsh Government budget.”


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GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

As soon as the English government promised that we wouldn’t lose out on funding if we left the EU, it was obvious that was a lie even before they opened up their stupid lying mouths. Why are Welsh Labour still defending the union if this is what it entails and why are they still trusting Westminster not to rip us off? Why does Welsh Lavbour trust anything coming from London especially as their own party there abstains from voting on giving their own government extra powers and law making abilities in Wales? Something absolutely reeks about them and it stinks… Read more »

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Let us not mince words. The ‘welsh’ conservatives are, quite literally, an enemy within. They can, will and do sell Wales out every single day. They are completely hostile to devolution. They see English rule’ as the only legitimate system of governance. They are drawing a salary to sit in the Welsh parliament, but take orders from Westminster. Nothing would please them more than a devastated economy. All the better to return to direct rule. Last month they expressed outrage at the idea of a strong Welsh voice in the union. They went so far as to back Westminster in… Read more »

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Dead right, P. Strongly reminded of the Brexiteers, led by that huge gob Farage, waving the butchers apron, and being a general disgrace while drawing salaries on top of their “business” money.
All other parties in Cymru must form an alliance to minimize the damage these people are causing. Send the lot to Coventry!

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  j humphrys

I’m Plaid but would campaign to get a Labour MP if they have come second to the tories, and hopefully Labour would do the same for us (not holding my breath) let’s do this all over Cymru and we can get rid of all 14 of the these,…. Fill in your own

Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago

Although quite open and forthcomming in her declaration for the 2nd Assembly,
It seems that Laura, in her 5th Senedd declaration of Members interests lists nothing at all.
Not a jot
Not even her membership of the Boris Backside Kissing Association, which as we all know is likely to bring her benefits of some sort or another.
If she can only get the taste out of her mouth and her betrayal of Wales in the suport of broken Tory promises out of her, hopefuly, troubled dreams.

William Glyn THOMAS
William Glyn THOMAS
2 years ago

My interpretation is that Westminster is navigating a path towards independence for England. I’m all for that provided the other three countries in the “Union” can decide their own future without being tied to the apron strings of England, “Cymru am byth”

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

Well the Tories are making extravagant promises about devolution of powers in England while making power grabs on devolved matters in the “colonies”. The fact that they prefer the quasi dictatorship of mayoralties is beside the point. They are as two-faced, duplicitous and mendacious as ever.

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

The Tories are certainly not on our side!

Mick Tems
Mick Tems
2 years ago

Welsh Tories? Surely an oxymoron?

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Welsh Labour Minister Vaughan Gething is just stating the obvious. Of course the Welsh Conservatives would celebrate cuts in Wales. They are Conservatives whose only loyalty is to England not Wales. It’s in their DNA. In 1999 they were happy to see our Senedd stay in a glorified multistory carpark not a purpose built chamber. And although over budget bemoaned the Senedd building cost of £69..6m but we’re happy to see the London Assembly building (The Gherkin) be built costing £230m. They wanted Cardiff International Airport to die leaving Wales the second country on the world without an airport putting… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
Valerie Matthews
Valerie Matthews
2 years ago

Maybe we should get together with Scotland and Northern Ireland and ALL campaign collectively to ditch our English Slavemasters! What’s to lose??

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago

In Scotland Labour is hand in glove with the tories, they are in coalition in 9 councils, yes 9! Little to choose between them but most hardcore unionists would vote for the tories anyway so not much scope in Scotland, the SNP hovered up most of the seats. There is only one Labour MP. It is a very good lesson: if you fail again and again the best thing to do is keep doing the same thing again and again

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

It’s unbelievable that this party calls itself Welsh. Hopefully its days degrading Wales are numbered.

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