The First Minister has admitted that his Government is disadvantaging Welsh businesses by failing to use money from the UK Government to pay off backdated business rates for Welsh ports.
During First Minister’s Questions the Labour leader was repeatedly asked why he was refusing to support Welsh businesses which have been burdened with massive backdated tax bills.
The First Minister also caused confusion by at one point denying the Assembly Government had received a Barnett consequential specifically for paying off backdated business rates for Welsh ports businesses.
Nick Bourne AM, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly, said, “This admission from Labour-Plaid that Welsh businesses will be penalised by the Assembly Government’s decision not to pay off backdated rates will do nothing to help Wales’ fragile economic recovery.
“These businesses were unfairly hit by a backdated tax bombshell at an already challenging economic time.
“Businesses at Welsh ports are critical to Wales’ economic recovery and it is disappointing that Labour-Plaid Ministers are prepared to put their future at risk.
“Labour-Plaid’s decision to put Welsh businesses at a disadvantage compared to their competitors in England gives major investors little reason to come to Wales, meaning fewer jobs and less growth for the Welsh economy.
“The First Minister also needs to make clear that his Government did receive £10million from the UK Government specifically to help these Welsh businesses.
“The Welsh economy needs an Assembly Government that will stand up for Welsh businesses to help them become more competitive and this admission reveals this is not going to come from Labour-Plaid.”
