Labour’s Wales record shows Keir Starmer would wreck UK, Welsh Secretary warns
Labour’s record in Wales shows Sir Keir Starmer would wreck the British economy and be forced to hike taxes, the Welsh Secretary has warned.
David TC Davies blamed the “reckless policies” of the Left-wing administration in Cardiff for economic “stagnation” and a crumbling health system.
Writing for The Telegraph (see below), he said Welsh voters and businesses had to suffer higher taxes and worse public services than counterparts in England.
He warned that Sir Keir, who has described outgoing First Minister Mark Drakeford as a “titan”, would use Wales as a “blueprint” for the whole UK.
Tory strategists have identified Labour’s record in Wales as a major Achilles’ heel for Sir Keir and plan to attack it relentlessly in the run-up to the election.
They believe that zeroing in on Cardiff’s incompetence will show voters that the Labour leader can not be trusted with the reins of power in London.
Mr Drakeford will leave a controversial legacy after five years in office, with the NHS in crisis and anger over the botched rollout of 20mph speed limits.
He was forced to admit this week that his administration made mistakes in launching the 20mph law, which polls have shown is hugely unpopular.
“Despite Welsh Labour’s shocking legacy, Sir Keir Starmer seems to be on a different planet, choosing instead to describe the Welsh Government’s actions as a ‘blueprint’ for the rest of the UK,” Mr Davies wrote.
“I challenge Sir Keir Starmer to repeat this description to my constituents, who are all suffering every single day from cuts to health provision.
“As a result of the implemented policies the Welsh economy is stagnating again, with wages and the employment rate lagging behind other parts of the UK, with Welsh businesses also paying the highest levels of business rates in the UK.
“If you want to know what UK Labour would do to the economy and health service – look no further than the damage their partners have carried out in Wales.”
The Welsh Government, whose finances are in chaos, has hiked business rates and cut levels of relief in a move that has dismayed hospitality firms.
Wales also recently recorded its worst-ever performance for reading, maths and science results, according to the international Pisa rankings.
In contrast, England is now among the best performers across all Western countries, having made huge improvements in recent years.
‘Failing the people of Wales’
Mr Davies added: “There’s no two ways about it. Labour is failing the people of Wales, despite receiving a record £18 billion a year – the largest block grant since devolution began over two decades ago – from the UK Government.
“Does Labour’s track record sound like something to be proud of? It certainly doesn’t. But, unfortunately, Labour’s policies will be felt – and remembered – for many years to come.”
He warned that those jostling to replace the outgoing First Minister had “chosen not to stand up to his reckless policies” and would make things “100 times worse”.
Mr Drakeford announced his long-anticipated resignation earlier this month, sparking a fierce competition within Welsh Labour to become his successor.
In a tribute, Sir Keir described him as “a true titan of Welsh and Labour politics” and said he had “delivered for Wales with steely determination and quiet authority”.
He also praised the outgoing First Minister last March, describing his record in power as a “blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK”.
Sir Keir is on a different planet if he thinks Wales is a ‘blueprint’ for UK
Imagine a nation where more than half-a-million people are languishing on never-ending waiting lists.
Or where industrial fans are running every hour of the day to desperately dispel diesel fumes pumped out of stationary ambulances that cannot offload critically ill patients, due to a lack of hospital beds.
This nation will also never again have any new roads built and its education standards – English, maths and science – continue to wallow after way over a decade at the bottom of Pisa’s heap.
This isn’t a place of fiction – welcome to Labour-run Wales.
Labour has been responsible for running Wales since 1999 and since then has been controlling health, council oversight, education, transport, environment, including water quality, and other areas.
Hundreds of millions of pounds have been wasted by multiple first ministers.
But perhaps the most notorious period was within the last five years.
Under Mark Drakeford’s watch, Wales has more than 500,000 patients – almost one in five people in Wales – languishing on a waiting list, as well as over 27,000 people awaiting treatment for more than two years.
Labour ministers scuppered all attempts to hold to account their actions in the pandemic, where Wales recorded the biggest loss of life, by blocking an independent Covid-19 inquiry.
In transport, Labour imposed – at a cost of £33 million – a blanket 20mph speed limit that will hit the Welsh economy by over £4 billion, as well as blocking new roads from being built ever again.
Labour also wanted to pay £1,600 every single month to some asylum seekers – before I blocked it.
And, to top off the list of insults, Labour wants to go on a lavish spending spree to the tune of £120 million of taxpayers’ money to create dozens of new politicians – despite ordering health boards to make over £60 million in drastic cuts.
Bluntly, if you have money to create politicians then you can help hospitals. It’s all about priorities.
But despite Welsh Labour’s shocking legacy, Sir Keir Starmer seems to be on a different planet, choosing instead to describe the Welsh Government’s actions as a “blueprint” for the rest of the UK.
Sir Keir went further this month, describing Mark Drakeford as a “titan”.
I challenge Sir Keir Starmer to repeat this description to my constituents, who are all suffering every single day from cuts to health provision.
If you want to know what UK Labour would do to the economy and health service – look no further than the damage their partners have carried out in Wales.
And if you thought life in Wales may now improve, you need to think again because things are about to become 100 times worse, not better.
All those who are set to replace the outgoing First Minister were joined to him at the hip and chose not to stand up to the reckless policies I’ve outlined above.
As a result of the implemented policies the Welsh economy is stagnating again, with wages and the employment rate lagging behind other parts of the UK, with Welsh businesses also paying the highest levels of business rates in the UK.
On top of that, Wales has yet again finished bottom of all the UK nations in the 2022 Pisa rankings, while the number of teachers employed continues to fall.
There’s no two ways about it, Labour is failing the people of Wales, despite receiving a record £18 billion a year – the largest block grant since devolution began over two decades ago – from the UK.
Does Labour’s track record sound like something to be proud of? It certainly doesn’t. But, unfortunately, Labour’s policies will be felt – and remembered – for many years to come.
David TC Davies is MP for Monmouth and Secretary of State for Wales
