Commenting following the Welsh Conservative debate on economic policy, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Economy and Energy, Samuel Kurtz MS said:
“This is a Labour Government bereft of ideas and content with keeping the Welsh economy and Welsh people poorer.
“Wales has the lowest employment, smallest pay packets and the highest economic inactivity in the whole UK. This should be a source of embarrassment for a government who have been in power for 25 years here, yet in the Senedd, Labour voted against our plan to reverse their slashing of business rates relief and to create an environment for businesses to invest and create jobs in Wales.
“Labour in Wales, Keir Starmer’s “blueprint” for government, has no new ideas and no plan to grow our economy. Only the Welsh Conservatives are offering that positive vision.”
The motion which was debated today:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Welcomes:
a) the UK Government’s clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future;
b) the UK Government’s action in cutting inflation from 11.1 per cent to 2.3 per cent;
c) the UK being the fastest growing economy in the G7;
d) the regional growth deals in every part of Wales, making Wales the only Growth Deal nation in the UK; and
e) the UK Government’s Freeports in North and South Wales, along with investment zones for advanced manufacturing.
2. Regrets that under the Welsh Government, Wales has:
a) the lowest employment rate;
b) the lowest median wages; and
c) the highest economic inactivity rate in the UK.
3. Calls on the Welsh Government to create an environment for businesses to invest and create jobs by:
a) levelling-up across Wales with proportionate levels of investment in all parts of the country;
b) reinstating business rates relief to 75 per cent for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector to support businesses and protect jobs;
c) abolishing business rates for small business;
d) enabling micro businesses to grow with a jump start scheme paying the employer national insurance for two employees for two years;
e) delivering 150,000 new apprenticeships over the next Senedd term; and
f) creating and fully funding a local business kickstarter scheme to support start-ups.
