Responding to the budget, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Finance, Peter Fox MS said:
“Today’s budget has been made possible by the Conservative Government delivering record funding for Wales.
“In that light, I welcome the much-needed business rates holiday to help firms recover from the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, along with an important uplift in funding for our local authorities who deliver so many key services in communities across Wales.
“I’m disappointed to see no funding stream has been made available to deliver regional surgical and diagnostic hubs to tackle our huge NHS waiting lists, whilst Labour ministers have also failed to earmark significant funding for our crumbling road infrastructure, which will continue to hold back our economy.
“Due to this record funding from the Conservative UK Government, Labour’s playbook of excuses in Cardiff Bay has well and truly run out and they will be judged on the delivery and results of this budget. They have more than enough tools at their disposal to kickstart the Welsh economy, tackle the NHS crisis, and deliver a better future for our children.
“They can no longer blame Westminster, Brexit, the weather, or any other excuse that might be in fashion at the time. Let’s not forget that Labour have been responsible for running Wales since the days of Tony Blair, but along with their nationalist helpers, they’ve consistently failed to improve our economy and public services over the past two decades.
“Arresting that decline and delivering a stronger Welsh economy with well-paid jobs and better public services now has to be the priority for Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay, rather than their current unhealthy obsession with powers and the constitution.”
ENDS/
Note to editors:
Last week the Welsh Conservatives laid out their vision to reignite the Welsh economy and deliver on the people’s priorities. Priority announcements for the Welsh Conservatives included:
- A cancellation compensation fund to support businesses in wake of Omicron
- The introduction of regional surgical hubs to tackle NHS waiting list backlog
- Additional funding to local authorities to help meet increasing social care pressures and keep council tax bills down to ease pressure on families
- Business rates holiday extension to help firms recover from the pandemic
- An increase in pupil funding to rectify the underfunding of Welsh learners
- An increase in road funding so Welsh infrastructure is fit for the 21st century
