The Welsh Labour government has released new procurement card spend data for 2022-2023. Apart from the total cash spent almost doubling from £800,000 to £1,500,000, the taxpayer might want to see exactly what crucial devolved government work they are financing. Here are the highlights:
Welsh officials have been keeping themselves well fed and watered on the taxpayer’s dime. Labour made a massive deal last year of government procurement card spending – they even rebranded their Twitter to attack the Tories for spending cash on cocktail parties for diplomats and so on. Funny they don’t seem too keen to mention it any more…
UPDATE: Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies says:
“The Labour Welsh Government are literally dining out on the backs of taxpayers as ministers complain of tight financial constraints and NHS waiting lists balloon for six consecutive record-breaking months. You couldn’t make this up.”
Co-conspirators may remember Welsh Labour’s bizarre plans to legislate for an “offence of deception” by 2026. It was hailed as a world-first by Plaid Cymru’s Adam Price, who struck a deal with Labour to get it through:
“What has just been announced by the counsel general is truly historic, in fact it is globally pioneering. We now have a commitment from the government that our democracy will be the first – the first in the world to introduce a general prohibition on deliberate deception by politicians.”
Under the proposals it will be an offence for a member, or a candidate, to make or publish a statement that is known to be false or deceptive. A policy with more holes than swiss cheese…
Shadow Paymaster General John Glen asked the Labour government in Westminster if it plans on doing the same. Constitution Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds has now said no plans exist “to bring forward legislation to create an equivalent criminal offence for elected representatives.” He says it’s for the Commons to decide if a statement is deliberately misleading. No Starmerite lying tribunals for politicians – the coppers will still be at your door if you say something ‘wrong‘ on the internet, though…
Starmer has always stood by Vaughan Gething. He famously said:
“In Wales a Welsh Labour government is the living proof of what Labour looks like in power, how things can be done differently and better. Every day you demonstrate the difference that Labour makes a blueprint for what Labour can do across the United Kingdom.”
Over 118 days of being Starmer’s man in Cardiff, Gething managed to get a lot done. He:
Here’s to the next “living proof of Labour in government” as Wales prepares for a leadership election…
Welsh Labour ministers, led by Gething rival and Economy Secretary Jeremy Miles, are resigning from the government. Miles refused to back Vaughan Gething last night…
This morning Miles says he “can’t see any way forward for us which allows us to get on with job we are elected to do, without you standing down.” Ministers Mick Antoniw, Julie James, and Lesley Griffiths have also just resigned. Counsel General Antoniw is blistering: “I must advise you that I do not believe you can continue as First Minister. Wales needs confident and stable government. I do not believe you are capable of delivering that.”The debate over Hannah Blythyn’s sacking is ongoing – ripe opportunity to angle for a takeover…
The Welsh Tories are jumping at the news. “Vaughan Gething’s time as First Minister is rightly coming to an end”…
Read Miles’ full letter below:
Kill-joy Welsh Labour have taken the term nanny-state to new levels, proposing a ban on free refills, buy one get one free and multibuy offers on foods that may contain high sugar and salt. The crackdown targets everything from yoghurts and breakfast cereals to potato products, pizza, and milk/juice-based drinks. The list of life-threatening foods goes on…
If retailers dare to break these new rules, they’ll face a hefty fine of £2,500. Shops are also forbidden from placing ‘unhealthy’ foods in prime spots like aisle ends and store entrances. Sam Rowlands, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister said:
“Nanny state plans like these are a distraction from Labour’s atrocious NHS record here in Wales.These frankly over the top regulations will hit people in their pockets, exacerbating the cost of living for the poorest in society, yet Keir Starmer calls this his blueprint for Britain. While healthy eating is important, the Welsh Conservatives believe that you have a right to decide what you eat and drink. Clearly Labour do not.”
Prepare for these punitive measures to cross the border into England if Labour seize control of Downing Street this week…
The case for the Welsh 20 miles per hour speed limit has neither been strong nor a vote winner. Many Welsh are not struck with fear and loathing at the idea of metal death traps hurtling down the country roads at 30mph rather than 20mph. Nor were they convinced that the scheme would more efficiently protect Wales’ green and pleasant lands from the pollution caused by cars pumping fumes into the air. Now the first monitor of scheme has found there is no difference in air quality…
Air quality sensors were deployed in four locations both inside and out of the 20mph zones to detect levels of deathly nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. It found that there was little difference in particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide was actually higher in the 20mph zones than outside them. At 50% of Welsh locations, air quality worsened as a result of 20mph zones…
Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Transport Minister, said:
“This blows a huge hole in the argument that lower speed limits will improve air quality. With two locations helping air quality and two hindering air quality, I don’t believe that the data can accurately ascertain whether lower speed limits are making a difference to overall air quality.”
Time to pump the brakes on this one…
