Wales election: Labour enjoys taking freedoms away, Tories say
- Published
Andrew RT Davies took over as leader of the Welsh Conservatives for the second time in January
The leader of the Conservatives in the Senedd has accused Labour of enjoying "taking our freedoms away" during the Covid pandemic.
Andrew RT Davies accused First Minister Mark Drakeford of trying to "reset" society, and said decisions taken for the sake of "being different" had not made Wales safer.
He made the comments at a pre-election Tory party conference speech.
Labour said the Welsh Tories had acted irresponsibly throughout the pandemic.
Mr Davies also promised to create 65,000 jobs in Wales in the next Senedd term if they win May's Welsh Parliament election.
Labour's first minister has been in charge of the restrictions on day-to-day life in Wales since last March.
Agreement between in the UK administrations to have similar Covid regulations across the four nations broke down last summer.
Wales has been the first part of the UK to allow unrestricted travel again, albeit only within its borders, and the first to reopen hairdressers after the start of the winter lockdowns.
But the Welsh government has not set a full timetable for scrapping restrictions, with no dates set for pubs, restaurants and gyms.
Mr Davies said the Tories supported most of the steps the Welsh government has taken during the pandemic.
"But sadly there has been occasions where we felt too much politics has come into play," he said, "where Labour decided to be different for being different's sake.
"And as the figures sadly show, it didn't make Wales any safer or less susceptible to catching the virus."
Promising to deliver a roadmap out of lockdown if he takes charge of the Welsh government, Mr Davies said Labour "doesn't want to give" hope to the Welsh public.
"They want a 'normal' they can continue to regulate and control," he said.
"In short, Labour have enjoyed taking our freedoms away just a little bit too much. They hang on to them a little too long.
"The first minister and his cabinet see these lockdowns not as a pause to control a disease, but as the pushing of a reset button on society."
WALES ELECTION: THE BASICS
What elections are happening? On 6 May, people across Wales will vote to elect 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs). The party or parties that can command the support of a majority of members will form the Welsh government. Find out more here.
What powers does the Welsh Parliament have? MSs pass laws on many aspects of day-to-day life in Wales, such as health, education and transport. They also have control over some taxes. Defence, foreign policy and immigration are decided by the UK Parliament.
How do I vote? Anyone who lives in Wales and is registered to vote is eligible, so long as they are aged 16 or over on the day of the election. You can register to vote online, external.
Mr Davies claimed it was not about dealing with the threat of the virus but "Labour seizing the opportunity to change lives and behaviours to suit their own socialist visions".
"Just because they don't like foreign holidays, they don't want people to have one either. Just because they don't like a pint, they want to keep our pubs and restaurants closed for as long as possible.
"Just because they don't like cars, they don't want people driving."
"We told Brussels to back off - now it's time to tell Labour and Corbynite Drakeford to back off too," he added.
Mr Davies said that the Welsh Government should not always do things differently because of devolution.
"I don't just believe in a joined-up approach across the UK for the sake of it, or from some abstract constitutional perspective," he said.
How has Labour responded?
A Welsh Labour spokesperson said Mr Davies "veered wildly between incoherent bluster and outright conspiracy theory".
"The Tories in Wales have zero credibility when it comes to keeping Wales safe. They've acted irresponsibly throughout the pandemic, playing politics in the face of a public health emergency," he said. "Welsh Labour have been cautious, careful and straight-talking throughout the pandemic.
"We have worked with NHS staff, armed forces and volunteers to get people vaccinated, and supported Welsh workers and businesses with the most substantial package in the UK.
"It is only Welsh Labour that will move Wales forward with the biggest Covid recovery plan, a jobs and training guarantee for young people, the Real Living Wage for social care workers, and a greener country for all."
With references to Brexit and attacks on Welsh Labour for "Corbynite" policies and "statist" interference with personal liberties, Andrew RT Davies is trying to hit the same notes that motivated Tory voters in the 2019 general election.
His criticism over diverging Covid policies between Wales and England and emphasis on the value of the union in a UK-wide approach to the crisis is partly an attempt to prevent a possible leakage of support to anti-devolution parties.
Note his assertion that any constitutional change, whether it's further devolution or the abolition of the existing arrangements, would be "a distraction to the job in hand".
In devolved elections over the last twenty years, the Welsh Conservatives have sometimes struggled to motivate their base. With this speech Mr Davies hopes to change that.
Housing pledge
Mr Davies also pledged the Welsh Tories would "rebuild and rebalance" the economy if it won the 6 May ballot, promising to deliver 100,000 new homes in the next 10 years.
There would be "a sole focus on economic growth above all else, on job creation and business expansion, supported by the right physical and technological infrastructure".
He vowed to "level up" Wales and cut taxes for small businesses by scrapping business rates.
The Welsh Conservatives would "help the parts of the economy hardest hit by Covid" and help businesses get "back on their feet" by pledging to keep the limit of 5% VAT for tourism operators until April 2022.
The rate is due to rise from 5% to 12.5% from October 2021.
The party told BBC Wales that it would pay the VAT on tourism to keep it at 5% in Wales until April 2022 - refunding businesses the difference.
In addition, a "Jump Start Scheme" would pay the employer's National Insurance contributions for the first two staff that microbusinesses in Wales hire for two years.
The Tories have already promised to reinstate the Welsh Development Agency if they win the Senedd election, and set up a £2.5bn Rebuild Wales investment fund.
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