Senedd election: Wales' lockdown easing made possible by UK says PM

Boris Johnson visited Net World Sports on Monday

The road out of lockdown in Wales has been made possible by the United Kingdom's programme for tackling Covid, the Prime Minister has said.

Boris Johnson has visited Wrexham for a Senedd election campaign visit.

He said voters were more concerned over the vaccine rollout than the row over how a renovation of his flat was paid for.

And he defended a decision by his party not to take further action against the MP for Delyn, Rob Roberts.

Mr Johnson said the disciplinary process was "correct" after the MP was "strongly rebuked" by the party for sending inappropriate messages to a female intern.

Welsh Labour accused the Conservatives of acting "irresponsibly" throughout the pandemic.

The Welsh Parliament election takes place on 6 May.

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The prime minister said that any declaration to be made on donations for the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat would be made "in due course".

When asked whether he had ever made the comment that he would rather see bodies pile up than go into a third lockdown, Mr Johnson replied "no".

He also said he had "absolutely not" interfered with an inquiry into a government leak.

• PM says any flat revamp donations will be declared

• Johnson did make 'bodies could pile high' comment

Mr Johnson's visit to Net World Sports in Wrexham on Monday took place on the same day that pubs, restaurants and cafes reopened outdoors in Wales.

He said: "Here in Wales, they're just beginning to unlock the outdoor pubs and that's great to see. This has been made possible by a great United Kingdom programme.

"Wales has been at the heart of our fightback, our national fightback and it makes me incredibly proud."

Asking voters to back the Tories, he added: "It hurts for me to say things like Welsh schools could do better or things in the Welsh NHS are not as good as they should be. But that's because of the failings of Welsh Labour.

"It would be so much better if the Senedd, the Welsh Assembly, was run by Conservatives," he said, adding: "You would work together better as one country and that's what I want to see."

WALES ELECTION: THE BASICS

What's happening? On 6 May, people will vote to elect 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs). The party that can command the support of a majority of MSs will form the Welsh government. Find out more here.

What powers does the Senedd have? MSs pass laws on aspects of life in Wales such as health, education and transport - and have some tax powers.

While the Welsh government has taken many of the decisions in Wales on Covid restrictions and has managed the NHS and vaccine rollout, the UK government has bought the vaccines, provided funding and overseen much of the testing programme.

Welsh Labour's Mark Drakeford has reopened the hospitality sector outdoors later in Wales than in England, although hairdressers were allowed to open earlier and travel restrictions were eased quicker in Wales.

Last week Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the first minister's "careful" handling of the pandemic will help the party rebuild trust in seats lost to the Conservatives in Westminster.

Labour is also fighting to hold Wrexham in the Senedd. At the general election in 2019 the seat was lost to the Conservatives' Sarah Atherton.

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart and Prime Minister Boris Johnson took part in the campaign event in Wrexham

On Rob Roberts, Mr Johnson said: "I believe that the disciplinary processes were correct. And we're a party that believes in cracking down on unacceptable behaviour of all kinds and that's what we do."

The Delyn Tory MP faces multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards parliamentary staff members.

The prime minister is under pressure to explain how works on the official residence were paid for, following claims from his former top adviser Dominic Cummings.

"I'm finding that actually what people here in north Wales want us to concentrate on is making sure we get on with the vaccine rollout," he added.

A Welsh Labour spokesman said: "Boris Johnson has hopefully come to Wales to learn lessons from the fastest vaccine rollout combined with some of the lowest coronavirus rates in the UK, being delivered by the Welsh Labour Government.

"People in Wales know the Tories never put the interests of Wales first. They have acted irresponsibly throughout the pandemic and are now consumed by Downing Street leaks and allegations about repugnant comments attributed to Boris Johnson in the media.

"Contrast the vacuum of moral leadership from Boris Johnson and the Tories, with Mark Drakeford's cautious and compassionate leadership."

Plaid Cymru's Llyr Gruffydd said: "The people of Wales don't take kindly to day trips by London politicians who preach to Welsh voters that they know best.

"Time after time, Boris Johnson lives up to his star billing as the best recruiting agent for Welsh independence."

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said if reports were correct that Mr Johnson said he would rather see bodies pile up than impose a third lockdown, "it is a truly atrocious comment".

"The prime minister might now be trying to draw attention to the successful vaccine roll-out, but he would do well to remember that this has been down to four nations working together rather than just him," she said.

"The lack of action by him and his ministers early last year has undoubtedly cost tens of thousands of lives."

The candidates in the Wrexham constituency are:

• Paul Ashton, Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party

• Charles William Henry Dodman, Reform UK

• Lesley Griffiths, Labour

• Carrie Harper, Plaid Cymru

• Jeremy Kent, Conservative

• Aaron Norton, Gwlad

• Sebastian Ross, UK Independence Party

• Timothy Sly, Liberal Democrat

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