Kirsty Williams
On the fifteenth anniversary of the National Assembly, Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has launched an attack on Welsh Labour’s record and has accused them of undermining many people’s faith in devolution.
The first plenary session in the National Assembly took place on 12th May 1999. Since then, either in coalition or as a minority government, Welsh Labour has continuously been in administration in Cardiff Bay. In that time, Wales’ education system has dramatically fallen in the international rankings; Wales’ health system has targets that are rarely met; and Wales’ economy continues to lag behind the rest of the UK.
Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said:
“I am proud that our great nation has its own National Assembly. Liberals campaigned for decades for Wales to have its own parliament and our enthusiasm has not wavered. I still believe in bringing decision making closer to the people. Yet I fear Labour’s routine failings are undermining many people’s faith in devolution.
“There is no denying that a generation of young people have suffered from Labour’s mismanagement of our education system. Our schools, once envied, now fall behind the rest of the UK in all of the key indicators.
“Sadly, the lack of a decent education has allowed many people to struggle to find work. Our economy remains weak. Despite billions of pounds of European aid, Wales has managed to get comparatively poorer. The ambition just hasn’t been there.
“Our health system grabs all the wrong headlines on a weekly basis. Targets are routinely missed, which is damaging NHS staff morale. Welsh patients deserve so much better than this.
“The fact is that Welsh Labour has not just let the people of Wales down, it has let down our National Assembly too. Wales needs a radical change – a change that will help build a stronger economy and a fairer society. The Welsh Liberal Democrats, in government, can deliver this change. It is only the Welsh Liberal Democrats that have the ideas and ambition to put Labour’s mistakes right.”
