S
peaking during First Minister’s Questions, the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives has challenged Carwyn Jones to take full responsibility for Wales’ poor economic standing and inadequate educational standards.
Wales has the lowest GVA per head of all devolved UK countries and English regions.
Recent global tests for pupils show that Wales is still falling behind other advanced countries in reading, maths and science.
Nick Bourne AM said: “Whichever way you look at it, Wales has fallen drastically behind. Our economy is weak. Our educational standards have got even worse.
“Late last year the First Minister said he would happily stand on WAG’s record. Was he joking?
“Does he honestly believe our economy and schools have benefited from 12 years of Labour management? Or is he simply happy to stand on a disastrous record?
“Between 2000 and 2008, other UK regions that received European money – just like Wales – improved. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly started to catch up with the rest of the UK.
“As did South Yorkshire and Merseyside. Will the First Minister accept that these figures show that, over the past decade, WAG has got it horribly wrong?”
“Will he take full responsibility for the national scandal surrounding our schools?
“Despite all the hard work of our teachers and pupils, reading, maths and science standards in Wales are at an appalling low. How can families have faith in a system that is clearly failing our children?
“Wales deserves much better and the First Minister has got to acknowledge that.”
