6. 6. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Welsh Government Performance

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:24 pm on 15 March 2017.

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Photo of Mr Simon Thomas Mr Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru 4:24, 15 March 2017

I think that I and Mike Hedges would share a Keynesian view of the world in this regard. I would say to him that the Office for Budget Responsibility came to the Finance Committee this morning. They didn’t tell the Finance Committee this morning because it is in their report, but they said that, clearly, fiscal consolidation continues to depress GDP. In other words, austerity is damaging the economy. But Westminster is insistent on sticking to it, regardless of the damage it is causing. I have to say that, although the Labour Party has changed a little over the last year, initially, they signed up to that austerity charter. Even Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell put their names to that austerity charter. That’s why they have proven to be such an ineffective opposition since then in Westminster—up to and including today, as I can see in Prime Minister’s questions.

Infrastructure is something that could drive us out of austerity. But, even those infrastructure projects that could be benefiting Wales—such as electrification to Swansea, such as the tidal lagoon, such as the Swansea city deal—are all delayed by UK Government politics and their considerations. So, I think it is quite simplistic, really, for the Conservatives in Westminster and former Conservatives here in this Chamber as well—[Interruption.] I don’t have time now, sorry, Mark. I appreciate your view, but I don’t have time now. I think it is very easy for them to gloat about the poor situation that Wales finds itself in—the constant harping that we have that we could never pay our own way and we could never be independent. It is as a result of the two unionist parties and what they have done to Wales that we are in this poor situation and unable to make those key decisions for ourselves that the Scottish people are able to take. So, until that changes, we will remain the voice of opposition in this place, both to the Conservatives and to the Labour Party—or rather to the coalition government, which Peter Black usefully described it as now. We will remain a clear voice of alternative politics in this place. That is our view.