Sunday 24 June 2018

Welsh Tories Row Over Airbus And Tidal Lagoon .

There seem to be a number of differences emerging within the "Welsh" Conservatives ;

First a row broke out  party after its Welsh leader (or whatever he is)  accused Airbus of exaggerating the risk of job losses if a no-deal Brexit happens.
Andrew RT Davies said the European planemaker of making threats and "hyperbole" after it warned it could quit the UK.

Guto Bebb, a UK defence minister, said the comments were "inflammatory".
Airbus employs more than 6,400 people at bases in Wales.

It has warned it could leave the UK if it exits the European Union single market and customs union without a transition deal after Brexit, putting thousands of jobs at risk.


There still seems to be a question whether he is the Welsh Tory leader or merely the leader of the Assembly group but  Andrew RT Davies has  accused Airbus of making "threats".
He said:

 "Clearly Airbus is an important company to the United Kingdom and to Wales - but it's worth remembering that it's the dynamic highly skilled UK workforce that has made Airbus the success it has become.
"Talking so casually about de-camping to China does those workers a disservice, and you'd think that Airbus was the first company to entertain slashing costs and by extension standards - and it doesn't usually end well.
"We are getting to the business end of the negotiations, and there is a lot of hyperbole flying around."
"But it's in everyone's interest to ensure that trade remains as free and frictionless as possible once we have left the European Union".
But Guto Bebb, Conservative MP for Aberconwy, said Airbus have been


 "consistent in their concerns and the government shares their aspiration for an early and comprehensive deal."
Mr Bebb disputed Mr Davies' title as leader of the Welsh Conservatives and said he does not speak in such a capacity.
He told BBC Wales

 "He is the leader of the assembly group and whilst I am unaware of whether he consulted his colleagues before issuing his inflammatory statement he certainly did not consult with myself as an MP in North Wales.
"Shooting the messenger is an unworthy position for a politician to take not least when that politician aspires to lead a government in Wales.
"He should retract his comments."


Meanwhile Andrew RT Davies  Assembly colleague Suzy Davies has  claimed that  "Backing for a tidal lagoon in Swansea could "unleash an economic revolution",project the go-ahead amid expectations UK ministers are about to pull the plug.
Ministers have said the £1.3bn scheme must prove it is value for money.

South Wales West AM  Ms Davies said real value for money would be delivered as the UK could become the "undisputed" global centre for expertise.


The project was backed in January 2017 by an independent review set up by the UK government, but ministers have not yet approved it, warning that the energy produced would cost a lot more than nuclear power.
Mrs Davies claimed tidal lagoon power was no longer set to be so expensive, and would be a major boost to the Welsh economy.


"The tidal lagoon is an opportunity to unleash an economic revolution in Wales, on a scale not seen since the regeneration of Cardiff Bay,"
 It's an innovative long-term source of low carbon energy, built in Wales and supported by a largely UK-based supply chain - including Welsh steel.
"If that doesn't represent value for money, I'm not sure what does, although it's worth noting that the project is now being proposed on the same terms as Hinkley Point," Mrs Davies added, referring to a new nuclear power station in Somerset.

"In any case, the real value for money comes in being the first - with the UK becoming the undisputed global centre for lagoon expertise and manufacturing.
"Ultimately, this scheme holds great promise to be the most reliable and resilient source of green energy available.
"It has huge local support and all parties in Wales have been supportive of this ambitious scheme since day one."

So the Tory Cardiff Branch Office seems to be clashing with  its London HQ .

One in which the Assembly Leader appears to be joining the Brexit fundamentalists  and  Boris Johnson  who replied  ‘f*** business’ when asked about employers’ fears that leaving the European Union could damage British jobs and industry.

 The other is Backing for a tidal lagoon in Swansea in which they are faced with their London Bosses scraping it.

Like  "Welsh" Labour however the Union will always come first if that means backing Brexit to the level that we lose a major employer like Airbus or accepting the loss of potential jobs if the London bosses scrap tidal lagoon.

How much longer can we go on with these politicians in our Assembly who put the Union and Westminster first?

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