As Boris Johnson speaks to the ever-dwindling Welsh Conservative faithful at their conference this weekend, Welsh Labour’s Deputy Leader slates Johnson’s deplorable record in Wales.
The Tories roll of shame is long and includes hoodwinking communities out of post-Brexit cash, taxing bonuses for Welsh care workers, inventing a battery factory in Bridgend, holding back money for flood damage, and refusing to extend furlough for Welsh workers until the south east of England needed to be locked down.
The Tories in Wales are no better. They won’t stand up to their London bosses. They never put the interests of Wales first, and will never speak out when Tory policies hurt Wales.
Welsh Labour’s Deputy Leader, Carolyn Harris MP, said
“If there’s one thing that Boris Johnson is good at, it’s telling porkies in a half empty hall. He’ll be bringing his end of the pier show to Wales this weekend – but all the bluster and hair ruffling in the world cannot mask his party’s deplorable record in Wales.
“But we should listen to what he says. Be under no illusions – if the Tories win in Wales in May, it’ll be Boris Johnson, Priti Patel and their hard-right cronies calling the shots. Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s that the Tories in Wales won’t stand up to their London bosses.
“Boris Johnson might act the clown, but he’s no laughing matter for Welsh communities.”
Johnson and the Tories Roll of Shame includes:
1. Boris Johnson’s Tories hoodwink communities out of Brexit cash by excluding areas of Welsh deprivation from funding for poor areas
Wales Online, 24 March 2021
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/bridgend-caerphilly-community-renewal-priority-20242454
2. Boris Johnson undermines Welsh devolution during a global health emergency, regrets’ the powers the Welsh Government has over lockdown and coronavirus.
Wales Online, 23 March 2021
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/coronavirus-powers-boris-johnson-drakeford-20237592
3. Boris Johnson invented a battery factory following the closure of the Ford factory in Bridgend
BBC News, 10 February 2021
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-56012151
4. Boris Johnson refused to confirm extension of furlough scheme
Wales Online, 10 February 2021
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/boris-johnson-declines-say-whether-19808518
5. Boris Johnson’s government refused to bring forward the start of the Job Support Scheme, despite Welsh Government offering to pay the difference – putting Welsh jobs at risk
South Wales Argus, 31 October 2020
https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/18837589.drakeford-talk-totreasury-furlough-support-wales
6. Failing to ‘passport through’ funds for repairs after Storm Dennis flooding in Wales
BBC News, 6 October 2020
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-54437237
7. Tories force care workers in Wales to pay tax on £500 ‘thank you’ payment from the Welsh Government
Wales Online, 3 June 2020
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/500-care-workers-payment-tax-18354378
8. Boris Johnson missed five consecutive Cobra meetings at start of Covid emergency
The Guardian, 19 April 2020
9. Systematically underfunding train services in Wales. Not passing on Wales’ share of HS2 funding, and cancelling rail electrification to Swansea.
Wales Online, 12 February 2020
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/utterly-excoriating-letter-prime-minister-17733556
10. Boris Johnson ‘missing in action’ over failure to visit flood-hit areas
Independent, 17 February 2020
11. £1.3bn Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project thrown out by Tories
BBC News, 5 June 2018
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-44589083