During First Minister’s Questions Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly, Nick Bourne AM, has challenged the First Minister to admit that cuts to WAG’s budget are far less than the Labour-Plaid Government had expected.
A 16.5 per cent cut over three years, or an average cut of 5.8 per cent a year, had been planned for.
As a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, WAG has been asked to find a cumulative reduction of 11.6 per cent over four years, or an average annual cut of 2.9 per cent per year.
Mr Bourne said: “In February 2009, even the Assembly Government’s own Finance Minister declared that the ‘years of plenty are over’.
“He warned that public spending was heading for a brick wall and it is quite clear that cuts were coming no matter who walked into Downing Street in May.
“While none of us wanted a reduction to our budget, what we will receive is tough but fair and it is far better than what the Labour-Plaid Government had planned for.”
“Since the Spending Review all we have seen from the First Minister is constant criticism and political grandstanding.
“He spent days putting all his energies into condemnation, before running off and calling for ‘constructive talks’ over his shoulder.
“How ironic.
“The constant negativity coming from this Labour-Plaid Government is downbeat and defeatist. It has to end. Let’s move on and let’s have an Independent Budget Review.
“That way we really can be constructive.”
