Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan MP today condemned Labour MPs for wasting an opportunity to discuss the implications for Wales of last week’s Budget.
Commenting after a session of the Welsh Grand committee at Westminster earlier today, Mrs Gillan accused Labour MPs of ‘playground tactics’ and turning the event into ‘a political circus’.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP was also present at the committee meeting.
Mrs Gillan said:
“I was delighted when Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander was able to attend Welsh Grand today to address members on the implications of the emergency Budget on Wales.
“But this opportunity to have serious and constructive discussions on the Budget and its implications on Wales was totally wasted by Labour MPs who were more concerned with making political mischief making than serious debate.
“I was disappointed by the playground tactics of Labour members in trying to reduce today’s Welsh Grand into a political circus, with no apparent wish to do real work on Welsh issues.
“Valuable debate time was therefore lost with the Opposition’s childish prevaricating and challenges to the Chairman.
“There were no surprises or change to the protocol of today’s Welsh Grand session, with the opposition being informed of Mr Alexander’s oral statement an hour before the session commenced.
“As Shadow Welsh Secretary for five years, I was well used to this procedure – but was still up to asking questions to Chief Secretary Stephen Timms when he addressed Welsh Grand.
“It was a shame that the Shadow Welsh Secretary wasn’t as prepared today.
“This was a wasted opportunity but reveals Labour’s tactics to try to divert the business of Welsh Grand from the real job in hand to debate real issues affecting Wales.”
