Welsh Labour made the wrong choices and now the consequences.

There is an election brewing and the Welsh Labour government is desperate.

You can tell how desperate by the constant haranguing by the First Minister and The High Commissioner for Wales Stevens.

In an attempt to highlight the benefits of two governments working together, they point to goodies coming to Wales due to that cooperation.

It’s Spin.

Billions coming to Wales, they say, from this cooperation.

No. Billions coming to Wales, over 10 years, because of UK government spending in England. 

It is a constitutional agreement, not a friendly gesture.

Neither is it billions that will remain in Wales. It is money used to lever more out of Wales.

Where is the financial legacy of  Wales coal and steel. Or the electronic industry, the auto industry.

Just jobs. Jobs that disappeared when the industries left.

What about the UK spending on Wales railway stations?

Well railway infrastructure is the UK responsibility and the’ friendly ‘ relationship only goes so far. The developments pointed to,, would not go ahead without a significant financial contribution by the Welsh government, even though it is not their responsibility.

And then there are the energy projects bringing ’  billions in investment ‘ and  ‘ thousands of jobs ‘

The Arwel y Mor proposal in North Wales is the first in Wales for a decade.

The construction jobs will be finished in 2 years and permanent jobs will total 50.

As for the supply chain. The next door neighbour, Gwynt y Mor, A billion pound project had less than 5% of its supply chain in Welsh or Wales based companies, with none in technology or maintenance.

As for the billions benefitting Wales. The developers are a foreign companies, with the profits heading abroad. The license fees issued by the Crown Estate and the proceeds to the UK Treasury as does any tax revenues.

As for Wales, it gets 50 long term jobs, although not guaranteed to be local.