Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:29 pm on 22 May 2019.
As I note that we still haven't had sight of the report on kukd.com yet, I think I'll begin with the First Minister’s response to last week’s FMQs when he accused my party of not being prepared to take risks when it came to supporting businesses. I think he forgot he was talking to the Conservatives. This is the very group that been exhorting this Government for years and years to be bolder and braver, because our economy has needed it, and it still needs it—Brexit or no Brexit. I think you know as well, Deputy Minister, what we all know, that the reputation of the Welsh economy is the sore that refuses to heal, infecting attempts to spread wealth, to raise the ambition of our young people, to tackle poverty and to persuade the brightest entrepreneurs that it is worth doing business in Wales. And the point my leader was making is that, the greater the risk, the greater the number of stones that need to be turned over. We cannot afford a slot-machine economy, where it doesn't matter if you're investing £10 or £10 million; the greater the risk, the more you show us, this Parliament, your workings. And I think Pinewood was the classic example of that: an idea that excited us all but whose delivery was hidden from view. And the sad thing is, if we'd all had earlier sight of what was going on there, this Parliament would have had the chance to offer some insight, to support Government and share responsibility for the next steps, instead of leaving us with absolutely no option but to reveal the Government's inability to manage risk in that case, and that is not a good advertisement for our nation. The global operators see that as, 'There's a quick buck to be made here', and our aspiring small businesses lose confidence that they're getting the best advice and the most strategic support.