Responding to the Welsh Conservatives’ UK budget debate in the Senedd that saw Labour Senedd Members vote against the motion of regret, Peter Fox MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Finance and Local Government said:
“Be in no doubt, by failing to oppose UK Labour’s budget of broken promises, Labour ministers in Cardiff Bay are failing the people of Wales.
“If Labour were serious about standing up for the people of Wales, they would oppose the tax increases by their colleagues in Westminster.
“The Welsh Conservatives will not yield in the pursuit of fairness for our pensioners, workers, farmers, businesses and for better political choices like the prioritisation of our Welsh NHS.”
The motion debated today read:
To propose that the Senedd:
- Believes that the UK Government’s Autumn Budget breaks Labour’s manifesto commitment to not raise taxes on working people.
- Regrets that many pensioners will have to choose between eating and heating as a result of the withdrawal of winter fuel payments.
- Recognises that the increase in employer national insurance contributions will make it harder to employ and retain staff for businesses.
- Expresses its disappointment that the UK Government’s budget has failed to deliver either the electrification of the North Wales Main Line or Barnett consequentials from the HS2 project for Wales.
- Calls on the Welsh Government to:
- use funding arising from the Autumn Budget to support reducing NHS waiting lists and strengthen social care services across Wales;
- deliver support to Welsh pensioners through the winter months via the establishment of a Welsh Winter Fuel Allowance;
- increase investment in the Welsh education system to improve learner outcomes in our schools;
- protect our farmers by supporting the case to maintain agricultural property relief and business property relief for inheritance tax purposes; and
stand up for Wales by seeking a new, needs based funding formula to replace the Barnett formula.
