Commenting on the publication of an opinion poll published by the Institute of Welsh Affairs regarding support for the devolution of income tax and borrowing powers and awareness of the UK Government’s response to the Silk Commission, Andrew RT Davies AM, Leader of the Opposition, said:
“Given the limited outreach of the Welsh media and the London-centric newspapers, it is pleasing to see that awareness of the UK Government’s announcements on the devolution of income tax, borrowing to fund an M4 relief road as well as the 2014 NATO conference in Newport is high.
“This poll shows that a referendum on devolving the power to vary income tax is there to be won, but politicians need to have the courage to make the case.
“I fear that Carwyn Jones doesn’t want the responsibility and accountability that income tax would bring and is happy to blame all his policy failings on a lack of money from the Treasury.
“Carwyn Jones needs to find the courage of his convictions and start actively making the case for the devolution of income tax to show cross-party support if a referendum is to be won.
“If he won’t support a yes vote in an income tax referendum, then Carwyn Jones is the boy who cried wolf.
“This poll demonstrates that the public are prepared to engage in a debate about taxation being decided in Wales, but the Labour Party needs to get its head out of the sand and take part in the public debate.”
