If you were a conspiracy theorist, you may well becoming to believe that Labour and the Tories have come up with "a cunning plan" to divide Wales both economically and socially.
Last year Influential business leaders and politicians from across both sides of the Welsh border have met to discuss how economic opportunities from the Northern Powerhouse Region can be maximised for North Wales.
The cross border summit, held at Coleg Cambria, Flintshire, was intended to drive focussed discussion and raise business awareness on how cross border economic development can be accelerated by a range of mutually-advantageous initiatives. These included modernising the transport network, maximising on energy sector opportunities, a clear cross-border economic development strategy and a strong cross-border economic team.
The Then Wales Office Minister Guto Bebb together with the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates were joined at the Northop campus by representatives from a range of business organisations including the Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses, CBI, the WLGA, the North Wales Business Council, Welsh Enterprise Zone chairs, the Cheshire and North Wales Chamber and the Mersey Dee Alliance.
Back in November 2015 Mr Skates’s , held similar meeting which was organised by the North Wales Economic Ambition Boar (No i don't know what it is either) said:
Only yesterday we had claims that A "western powerhouse" between Cardiff, Newport and Bristol can boost job prospects across the whole region, the Welsh secretary has said. Alun Cairns has set up a Severn Growth Summit in Newport, with 350 delegates.
He believes it has the potential to rival the Northern Powerhouse or "Midlands Engine".
"It's about time that we made politics fit business rather than business fit politics," added Mr Cairns.
He believes the Severn crossings have acted as a barrier to businesses and communities in Wales and England for the past 50 years.
This is not just because of the tolls for vehicles travelling west along the M4 but also because the bridges have become a symbol of an economic barrier.
It is unbelievable that it has taken over 50 years for a Government minister to come to this conclusion , only when he want to turn South East Wales into a Bristol commuter belt.
Mr Cairns believes this has held back Wales' prosperity and without the tolls - which are due to be phased out by the end of 2018 - people and business would have become more integrated.
But also since devolution, Wales has differed in the way that it has tried to grow its economy - from training and job creation to apprenticeships, the policy path has been different to England.
Asked if this approach undermined devolved economic policy, Mr Cairns said:
UK ministers confirmed it was a step towards abolishing tolls altogether at the end of 2018, as revealed in July.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said tolls had been "an economic and symbolic barrier to Wales' future prosperity"
iT is unbelievable that it has taken over 50 years for a Government minister to come to this conclusion , only when he want to turn South east Wales into a Bristol commuter belt.
You can understand Tory Ministers seeking to split Wales into two Economic Regions where they will be probably dominated by English cities who will be setting the agenda , but why is Labour in the Assembly also going on with this?
Perhaps they think the Northern "Region " will be permanently dominated by them and the Southern Region periodically passing from Tory to Labour .
Where this leaves the rest of Wales is uncertain, maybe a playground for the two "powehouses",
It seems to me that this is more a case of Unionist parties coming up with a plan to divide Wales and prevent any Party in power in Cardiff bay coming up with plans to link the whole of Wales such a reopening the Carmarthen Aberystwyth line.
Maybe they think that people may eventually ask what is the Assembly for?
Last year Influential business leaders and politicians from across both sides of the Welsh border have met to discuss how economic opportunities from the Northern Powerhouse Region can be maximised for North Wales.
The cross border summit, held at Coleg Cambria, Flintshire, was intended to drive focussed discussion and raise business awareness on how cross border economic development can be accelerated by a range of mutually-advantageous initiatives. These included modernising the transport network, maximising on energy sector opportunities, a clear cross-border economic development strategy and a strong cross-border economic team.
The Then Wales Office Minister Guto Bebb together with the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates were joined at the Northop campus by representatives from a range of business organisations including the Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses, CBI, the WLGA, the North Wales Business Council, Welsh Enterprise Zone chairs, the Cheshire and North Wales Chamber and the Mersey Dee Alliance.
Back in November 2015 Mr Skates’s , held similar meeting which was organised by the North Wales Economic Ambition Boar (No i don't know what it is either) said:
“I welcome these talks and I’m delighted that the Welsh Labour Government initiated this cross-party, cross-border summit to discuss transport issues affecting both regions. We want to see a more integrated road and rail network which would benefit both sides of Offa’s Dyke. There is huge potential in driving forward an agenda that links the strengths of North Wales and the North West of England to create a world-class economic powerhouse.”
Only yesterday we had claims that A "western powerhouse" between Cardiff, Newport and Bristol can boost job prospects across the whole region, the Welsh secretary has said. Alun Cairns has set up a Severn Growth Summit in Newport, with 350 delegates.
He believes it has the potential to rival the Northern Powerhouse or "Midlands Engine".
"It's about time that we made politics fit business rather than business fit politics," added Mr Cairns.
He believes the Severn crossings have acted as a barrier to businesses and communities in Wales and England for the past 50 years.
This is not just because of the tolls for vehicles travelling west along the M4 but also because the bridges have become a symbol of an economic barrier.
It is unbelievable that it has taken over 50 years for a Government minister to come to this conclusion , only when he want to turn South East Wales into a Bristol commuter belt.
Mr Cairns believes this has held back Wales' prosperity and without the tolls - which are due to be phased out by the end of 2018 - people and business would have become more integrated.
But also since devolution, Wales has differed in the way that it has tried to grow its economy - from training and job creation to apprenticeships, the policy path has been different to England.
Asked if this approach undermined devolved economic policy, Mr Cairns said:
"For the 20 years we have been talking about devolution we've been talking about collaboration but that collaboration doesn't stop at the Welsh border.
"This is about doing the right thing for businesses and for the economy in order for both sides to grow and I think Wales has a lot to gain," he said.
"I think the whole mass of the great western cities of Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Bristol and Bath, combining the might of them and all of a sudden if you are an international investor you can see what all these cities have to offer, how they dovetail and how they come together."
Clearly there is as connection that Tolls on the Severn Bridges this month will be cut for the first time, as VAT is removed from the fees.
Cars
heading for Wales will be charged £5.60 instead of £6.70, with vans
paying £11.20 - down from £13.40 - and coaches £16.70, currently £20.UK ministers confirmed it was a step towards abolishing tolls altogether at the end of 2018, as revealed in July.
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said tolls had been "an economic and symbolic barrier to Wales' future prosperity"
iT is unbelievable that it has taken over 50 years for a Government minister to come to this conclusion , only when he want to turn South east Wales into a Bristol commuter belt.
You can understand Tory Ministers seeking to split Wales into two Economic Regions where they will be probably dominated by English cities who will be setting the agenda , but why is Labour in the Assembly also going on with this?
Perhaps they think the Northern "Region " will be permanently dominated by them and the Southern Region periodically passing from Tory to Labour .
Where this leaves the rest of Wales is uncertain, maybe a playground for the two "powehouses",
It seems to me that this is more a case of Unionist parties coming up with a plan to divide Wales and prevent any Party in power in Cardiff bay coming up with plans to link the whole of Wales such a reopening the Carmarthen Aberystwyth line.
Maybe they think that people may eventually ask what is the Assembly for?
1 comment:
I remember Russell Goodway being luke warm on the idea of the National Assembly and saying it would make more sense for there to be an assembly for South East Wales and the West of England.....
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