Today in the Senedd at First Ministers Questions... Plaid Cymru condemns “what happens in Westminster, happens in Westminster” comments Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood AM, has described the First Minister’s refusal to oppose austerity and stand up for Wales as ‘inexcusable.’ Ms Wood asked the First Minister to explain why Labour MPs will be supporting the Coalition’s Austerity Charter – also known as the Charter for Budget Responsibility – in Westminster today which enshrines further public cuts in law. The First Minister has been vocal during previous appearances in the National Assembly in condemning UK Government fiscal policy. During exchanges at First Minister’s Questions today, the Plaid Cymru leader asked the First Minister: “It is inexplicable that you won’t miss a single opportunity to attack Tory policies and yet you’re reluctant to condemn austerity which is at the heart of the problem. “Can you explain then, why your MPs will be voting in favour of the Tories’ Austerity Charter later today?” The First Minister responded: “I’m the First Minister for Wales and a member of the National Assembly for Wales. What happens in Westminster happens in Westminster. I take the view that I should answer questions on behalf of the Welsh Government and not the Labour party elsewhere in the UK.” Following the First Minister’s refusal to stand Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood AM said: “For the First Minister of a country to shrug his shoulders and abdicate responsibility in this way when one in three children in Wales live in poverty, when there’s a twenty per cent rise in the number of people seeking emergency support from foodbanks – because of austerity, is inexcusable. “The cuts Labour are supporting today will mean further deep and damaging cuts to social care, local amenities and will strangle any possible recovery. “And Wales’ First Minister has refused to distance himself from that. “Week in week out, the First Minister comes to the Assembly and bemoans Tory cuts. “He’s trying to look both ways on austerity: “Crocodile tears for Wales, a passive nod of approval to his bosses in Westminster. Ms Wood said voters would see through Labour’s double-standards as the general election campaign unfolds. She added: “People are fed up of paying a high price for a financial crisis caused by the bankers and politicians. Austerity has failed: the UK’s debt is rising every day and people are hurting because of severe cuts to services and social protection. “What the First Minister has revealed today is only Plaid Cymru will oppose Tory austerity. We want to rebalance power and wealth throughout the UK so places outside the City of London can become prosperous and sectors outside financial services can thrive. We want Wales to be treated on the basis of equality, that means the same spending per head as is enjoyed in Scotland. That means an extra £1.2 billion for our public services and our communities. “There’s an alternative to austerity and in Wales, Plaid Cymru provides it.”
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:25:16 +0000