welshlabourpress-blog

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"Today’s decision by the UK Tory Government is beyond disgraceful - it is an abject dereliction of duty, as wrong-headed as it is short-sighted" - Rees

Responding to the UK Tory Government’s decision to abandon their support for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Christina Rees MP, said:

“Today’s decision by the UK Tory Government is beyond disgraceful - it is an abject dereliction of duty, as wrong-headed as it is short-sighted.

“After slashing Welsh budgets and breaking their promises on rail electrification, Theresa May and her hapless Cabinet have prevaricated for nearly 18 months since the Hendry Review was published - only to let the people of Wales down once again.

“The attitude of the Tories in Westminster sits in stark contrast to our Welsh Labour Government, and the £200 million of funding they pledged to try and make this pathfinder project a reality.

 “Just two weeks ago, the Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, told us that he wanted the Lagoon project to go ahead. His failure to make the case for this investment in Swansea’s future and in Wales’ future shows that he is incapable of winning the argument with his own cabinet colleagues.”

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“Today’s announcement will cause concern not only for Airbus’s dedicated workforce, but the wider economy in Wales. The UK Government needs to act now" - Rees

Responding to warnings from Airbus that the company could leave the UK if the country exits the European Union without a transition deal, shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Christina Rees MP, said:

“I was at Airbus only last week for a business round table with UK Shadow Cabinet colleague Rebecca Long-Bailey.

“It was clear then that the Tory Government’s botched Brexit negotiations were causing concern at this hugely important employer.

“Today’s announcement will cause concern not only for Airbus’s dedicated workforce, but the wider economy in Wales. The UK Government needs to act now with guarantees and reassurances to Airbus management.  Anything less will be a dereliction of duty.”

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Christina Rees calls on Alun Cairns and the UK Tory Government to ‘step up’ and support those affected by Virgin Media job losses in Swansea

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Christina Rees MP, today called on the UK Tory Government to ‘step up’ and effectively support those affected by Virgin Media job losses in Swansea.

Virgin Media’s announcement of 3rd May that it is consolidating its customer service operations directly threatens the jobs of 772 people employed at the company’s Swansea site working for Virgin Media and their outsourcing company, Sitel.

Drawing a clear contrast between the actions of the Welsh Labour Government and their UK Tory counterparts in response to the news, Christina Rees MP said:

“It is clear that the Welsh Labour Government sprang into action barely 24 hours after Virgin Media’s announcement. They have facilitated a meeting between Swansea Council, Trade Union representatives, and local MPs and AMs to explore a counter proposal within the 45-day consultation period.

“The Welsh Government have also begun work convening a Taskforce that can bring together all partners, including Careers Wales, Local Authorities and other partners to help those impacted by the proposed job losses find alternative work and training support.  They are already in discussions with Sitel regarding a potential job creation project, and the Welsh Government’s ReAct3 programme which supports those affected by redundancy has already been triggered. 

“In the face of this threat to jobs, the Welsh Government has stepped up to the mark.  But the question hanging in the air is this: Where are the UK government?  Where is the Secretary of State?  Where is their intervention?  Where is their support for those 772 families?

“While everyone else links arms to support the workforce of Virgin Media this government announces it is ‘surprised and disappointed’ and goes back to the much more serious business of Tory cabinet infighting.

“The people of Swansea and West Wales will draw the obvious conclusion – that this Tory Government does not care about them, their jobs, or their city.”

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"This Spring Statement was another missed opportunity from a Chancellor that keeps ducking the big issues" - Rees

Responding to the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Christina Rees MP, said:

 “This Spring Statement was another missed opportunity from a Chancellor that keeps ducking the big issues - and showed once again the lack of respect that this UK Tory Government has for Wales.

 “As Welsh communities continue to suffer the appalling impact of eight years of cruel Tory cuts, they might have hoped for a small indication that the UK Government were listening. Instead, they heard a Chancellor once again rehash his failed prescription of austerity.

 “Instead of the leadership we have seen for a post-Brexit Wales from Carwyn Jones and our Welsh Labour Government, we saw a UK Government at sea - with no plan, no compassion and no mandate in Wales.”

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“Today's Budget shows once again the contempt and disregard that this UK Tory Government has for Wales” - Rees

Responding to today’s Budget, Christina Rees MP, shadow Secretary of State for Wales, said:

 "Today's Budget shows once again the contempt and disregard that this UK Tory Government has for Wales. It is a shameful catalogue of missed opportunities, shot through with a callous disregard for those communities and people in Wales that most need support. 

 "Welsh Labour had called on the Chancellor to end austerity and properly fund Welsh Government, enabling further investment in Welsh public services. He failed to do so. 

 "We demanded he provide new funding to lift the public sector pay cap in Wales that is hitting public sector workers year after year. He refused.

 "We urged him to pause and fix Universal Credit, which is creating appalling levels of poverty, debt and desperation for families across Wales. He chose not to, instead tinkering around the edges with a broken system. 

 "And we asked him once again to join Welsh Labour and support Welsh business, infrastructure and innovation, and to deliver on promises to back the Swansea Bay Tidal lagoon and reverse the UK Tory Government decision to cancel rail electrification from Cardiff to Swansea. On each and every one of these, he let Wales down once again.

 "On the crucial issue of the North Wales Growth Deal, after sustained pressure from Welsh Labour MPs and the Welsh Labour Government, the Chancellor indicated that discussions would begin to take the project forward. The devil will be in the detail, and we will keep up the pressure to drive the Growth Deal forward, and ensure that this vital scheme is not simply kicked into the long grass with more empty words and hollow promises.

 "Meanwhile, the Tory claims of an extra £1.2bn for Wales are pure smoke and mirrors.  Much of this "new" funding will have to be repaid to the UK Treasury, and comes with restrictions on how it can be spent. The truth is that the real uplift to the Welsh budget is significantly smaller.

 "Our Welsh Labour Government continues to protect and invest in front line services, provide bold leadership on Brexit and work to protect our communities against the cruellest excesses of UK Tory Government cuts. But this work will be made much harder following today's weak and desperate budget from a UK Tory Government that simply doesn't care about Wales."

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Carwyn Jones comment on Plaid Cymru withdrawal from Compact

Following Plaid Cymru's decision to withdraw from the Compact, Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “This is a decision taken by Plaid Cymru, and was communicated to me in a call from Leanne Wood this morning. Our conversation was amicable and we agreed that it was important to keep open lines of communication. From our viewpoint we believe the Compact gave Wales some welcome stability at a time of great uncertainty caused by ongoing Tory cuts and the Brexit chaos in Westminster.   “As I have said many times, no one party has a monopoly on good ideas and my Government has a responsibility to work with others, where we can, for the good of the people of Wales. We will continue to work in that way, open to ideas, and open to co-operation, as we focus on delivering for our communities.”

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Alun Cairns' speech was a perfect distillation of everything that’s wrong with the Tories and their attitude to Wales - Rees

Responding to Alun Cairns’ speech to Conservative Party conference, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Christina Rees MP said: “Alun Cairns' speech was a perfect distillation of everything that’s wrong with the Tories and their attitude to Wales. “At every opportunity, he chose to talk Wales down, his clear priority being to protect his embattled Prime Minister instead of protecting the best interests of Wales. By attacking our schools, our health service and our business community, Alun Cairns showed that there is no depth to which the Tories will not stoop. “On the key issues facing Wales, the silence was deafening. No backing of crucial Tidal Lagoon schemes, no word on his broken promises on rail investment, no explanation on how the billions Theresa May is paying for DUP support is starving Wales of the infrastructure investment it deserves. “Meanwhile, Welsh Labour is united, standing up for Wales in Westminster, Cardiff Bay and in councils across the country. Labour’s record of delivery in Wales – and our message of hope for Britain – stands in stark contrast to the lack of respect that the Tories show for our country.”

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Welsh Labour response to Andrew RT Davies speech

Following the Andrew RT Davies speech at Conservative conference, a Welsh Labour spokesperson said: "It takes some brass neck for Andrew RT Davies to bandy about accusations of "falsehoods" and "false promises" on the same day that his Prime Minister is slinging hundreds of millions of pounds around to try and save her irreversibly devalued Premiership. For the Tories, there is no bung too big, no deal too grubby - their only aim is to cling on to what power they have in Westminster at all costs. "The reason that Welsh Labour did well in the recent General Election in Wales was simple - we campaigned on our record of government in Wales, and on our promises of what we would do nationally under a UK Labour government. People responded well to both, while rejecting the cruel cuts being proposed by the Tories. "We all know how divided the Tories are, from the attempted coup against Andrew RT Davies while he was on holiday in the middle of the general election campaign, to the current manoeuvres of Boris Johnson and his fellow dogmatic hard-Brexiteers. In comparison, Welsh Labour is united, working across Wales on the issues that matter most to people - including support for rail electrification and the tidal lagoon project, both of which the Tories have let Wales down on."

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The spectacle of the Welsh Tory leader lobbying his own UK Government through an open letter is, quite simply, pathetic - Rees

Responding to the Welsh Conservatives’ open letter to the Prime Minister on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, Christina Rees MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, said: "The spectacle of the Welsh Tory leader lobbying his own UK Government through an open letter is, quite simply, pathetic. It shows how little clout Welsh Tories have, and how little respect this UK Tory Government has for Wales. "Compare this with Welsh Labour's record on the tidal lagoon - absolutely united, consistently supportive in Westminster and Cardiff Bay. This week alone, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell pledged support in his conference speech, while both Carwyn Jones and Jeremy Corbyn reiterated their support in a Welsh Labour broadcast. "Let's be clear - any support for the lagoon scheme is to be welcomed. But we should also be crystal clear that this vital project is on the precipice because of the indifference of this UK Tory government."

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Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones comment on Kezia Dugdale's resignation

Commenting on the news that Kezia Dugdale is stepping down as the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones said:

"I'm very sorry to see that Kezia is stepping down as leader. She's done a superb job in the toughest of circumstances and brought Scottish Labour back from the brink. The party will always owe her a debt of gratitude for that.

 “I enjoyed our working relationship and together we worked successfully to establish a more robust and permanent place for the devolved parties within Labour structures. I wish Kez all the very best for the future."

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"The Tories are aware of the terrible impact that their cuts and inaction are having in Wales, but are determined to do nothing anyway" - Rees

Reacting to Andrew RT Davies' comments on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and rail electrification to Swansea, shadow Secretary of State for Wales Christina Rees MP said: "The only truly remarkable thing about this interview is the revelation that the Prime Minister is speaking to the Welsh Tory Leader again. "The rest just confirms what we already know - that the Tories are aware of the terrible impact that their cuts and inaction are having in Wales, but are determined to do nothing anyway.  Only Welsh Labour will stand up for Wales".

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More than a million people in Wales will be affected by the UK Tory Government’s state pension age increase

New analysis by the Labour Party shows that more than a million people in Wales will be affected by the Government’s plans to extend the retirement age from 66 to 68, including 51,913 people in Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns’ constituency, Vale of Glamorgan.  Across the UK 36.9 million people will work longer than under Labour’s plans, which would keep the state pension age at 66.

Labour today announces its national state pension tour, a conversation with communities across the country to discuss dignity and security in older age in relation to the state pension.

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions, will meet with pensioner groups and local residents across the UK to discuss how a future Labour government can provide dignity and security in retirement.

Debbie Abrahams, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:

“Thanks to the Tories increasing the state pension age, more than a million people in Wales, and 36.9 million people across Britain, will be forced to work longer and postpone their hard-earned retirements. 

“In Alun Cairns’ constituency of Vale of Glamorgan, more than 50,000 people will be affected. Conservative MPs must explain to the tens of thousands of people in their constituencies why the burden of Tory austerity is being pushed onto them, while corporations and the richest individuals receive tax breaks.     “Labour will keep the state pension age at 66 and is consulting with communities across the country about a pensions system that guarantees a secure and healthy retirement for the many, not just the few.”

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"Tory smears are inarticulate, inaccurate and sinister" - Welsh Labour

A Welsh Labour spokesperson, responding to the latest London HQ-orchestrated Tory smear attack, said: "Andrew RT Davies is showing unbelievably brass neck with his attempts to lecture others on leadership and trust. This is, after all, the man who cares so little about communities in Wales that he took a week off on a beach holiday during a crucial General Election. "But this inarticulate and inaccurate attack is actually more sinister. Because at heart, it's nothing more than an attempt to distract from the real cost that is hammering Welsh families and Welsh industry - the cost of Tory indifference. "This last week we have seen the Tory cancellation of the vital rail electrification to Swansea, risking jobs and vital investment. We have seen the Tories appalling indifference to the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project, putting the project in real jeopardy. And all the while, his own party had cut over a billion pounds from the Welsh budget. "Welsh Labour will ignore the Tories tittle tattle and remain focussed on the real issues facing our economy, fighting for jobs and a brighter future for families across Wales."

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"Welsh Labour will continue to do what is best for Wales on Brexit" - Rees

Christina Rees MP, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, said: "Plaid Cymru never miss an opportunity to try and score a few cheap political points, and are happy to misrepresent and obsfucate indiscriminately as they do so. "Instead of launching personally offensive volleys during recess, Plaid would be better placed getting behind Labour's red-lines over any post-Brexit power grab by the Tories. "Carwyn Jones and Keir Starmer have been absolutely at one that any dilution of devolution by the Tories is absolutely unacceptable - a message that was underlined loud and clear yet again at this week Royal Welsh Show by both Carwyn and Leslie Griffiths. "This is just one plank of a Labour Brexit strategy that puts Welsh jobs, industry and communities first - not the snide dividing lines that Plaid are peddling. "It is also telling that while Plaid shout from the sidelines, the Welsh Labour Government is working constructively with Scottish Government ministers, putting aside petty politics to best protect Welsh and Scottish interests. "Welsh Labour MPs and the Welsh Labour Government will continue to do what is best for Wales - as we have done consistently since the Brexit vote last year."

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"After years of pressure, the Tory Government has finally listened" - Morden

Responding to reports today that Severn Bridge tolls are to be abolished, Welsh Labour MP for Newport East, Jessica Morden, said: 

“Having campaigned for many years alongside Labour colleagues for the Tory Government to act on the Severn Bridge tolls, today's news is welcome. 

“For far too long, commuters and businesses in Newport East and beyond have had to absorb the extortionate toll charges. It's them that we've fought for so it’s a relief that, after years of pressure, the Tory Government has finally listened. 

“The announcement is bittersweet, however, following yesterday's news that the Tory Government has scrapped its longstanding pledge to electrify the railway line between Cardiff and Swansea. 

“As always with this Government the devil will be in the detail - my Welsh Labour colleagues and I will ensure the Government is scrutinised, that we have a timetable for the bridges returning to public ownership and that the tolls really are scrapped.”

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“The shoddy way that the Tory Government has sneaked out the news about cancelling line electrification to Swansea is almost as shocking as the announcement itself” - Rees

Commenting on the UK Government’s decision on rail electrification to Swansea, shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Christina Rees MP, said:

 "The shoddy way that the Tory Government has sneaked out the news about cancelling line electrification to Swansea is almost as shocking as the announcement itself.

 "For months we've have weasel words from the Tories pretending that this crucial project was still going ahead. We now know that they were just stringing people along so they could pull the plug at the last minute, and try to avoid any scrutiny. 

 "Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns must personally shoulder much of the responsibility for this terrible decision, as he has previously claimed credit for the investment. As with getting a fair deal for Wales following his Government's grubby deal with the DUP, he has once again let Wales down.

 "The cancellation of this project will have a hugely negative impact on this part of Wales, and is the latest example of the disrespect that the Tory UK Government has for Wales."

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“The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is a crude power-grab from London, which strikes at the heart of devolution.” - Carwyn Jones

Responding to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, said: 

“The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is a crude power-grab from London, which strikes at the heart of devolution.

“Only this week, the Prime Minister pledged to listen to others about the challenges posed by EU withdrawal, calling for unity for the good of the country. Yet, today’s announcement flies firmly in face of her promises.  

“I have been clear since the day of the EU referendum result - the UK is leaving the EU and we will work with the UK Government to deliver a sensible Brexit and support a Bill which provides clarity and certainty for businesses.

“We have repeatedly tried to engage with the UK Government and have put forward constructive proposals about how we can deliver a Brexit which honours  the result of the referendum, safeguards the economy and respects devolution. 

“Regrettably, our attempts to work with the UK Government have been flatly ignored. Instead of mature and constructive engagement, the UK Government has shown astounding ignorance in the publication of this Bill, which is an insult to the devolved nations.

“The UK should be entering Brexit negotiations from a position of unity so we have the best possible chance of securing a good deal with the interests of all parts of the UK at its heart. Instead, the Government appears determined to provoke a constitutional conflict we do not need.

“If the Bill is not amended, there is no prospect of my Government recommending the National Assembly should give legislative consent to it. We will instead investigate ways in which we can use our existing legislative powers to help defend devolution. We will also work closely with the other devolved administrations; indeed, the Scottish First Minister and I will issue a joint statement today, in which we will make clear that we cannot support the Bill in its current form.”