“National mission” at heart of Welsh Conservatives’ “ambitious plan” to get Wales’ economy on the road to recovery

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies will today set out what he will describe as Wales’ “national mission to get the economy on the road to recovery” as the party unveils its manifesto for the upcoming Senedd election.

At the heart of the manifesto will be the creation of 65,000 new jobs to power Wales' economic recovery, with Welsh and UK governments, businesses, entrepreneurs and education providers working together to achieve it. 

Once Wales hits this target, Welsh Conservatives have committed to cutting the basic level of income tax at the back end of the next Senedd term so everyone benefits from our economic recovery.

Providing we have grown the economy through the national mission by 2025, we will implement a cut of at least 1p in the £ to the basic rate of income tax to support hardworking families.

The Welsh Conservative manifesto will prioritise economic recovery not just from the coronavirus crisis but from twenty two years of Labour misrule. In contrast, Labour have plans to increase income tax after the pandemic.

The “national mission” is the centrepiece of an ambitious plan to deliver more jobs, hope and security for everyone in Wales.

Other key economic policies include: 

• Abolishing business rates for small businesses and reform the outdated tax on growth

• Boosting opportunities for workers hardest hit by the pandemic with our Covid “Retrain, Gain” programme to get people into key sectors to kickstart the economy

• Launching new support for micro businesses with our “Jump Start Scheme” paying the employer National Insurance contributions of two new employees for two years to accelerate growth

• Establishing “Innovate Wales”, based in North Wales, a one stop shop for firms to support new enterprises, and encourage existing businesses to grow and export

• Investing £2 billion to create modern infrastructure for Wales, including an M4 Relief Road, upgrades to the A55 and A40, and 20,000 green charging points

• Delivering a “new deal” for North Wales

Commenting ahead of the launch in Wrexham, Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies said: 

“Over the past 12 months, the coronavirus crisis has tested our communities and public services beyond recognition, but we’ve seen the very best of Wales when everyone has worked together in the national interest. 

“As we move out of lockdown the next big challenge awaits, and we will need to undertake another critical national mission to get the economy on the road to recovery and create new jobs. 

“We are currently experiencing the deepest downturn since records began, and evidence shows that Welsh communities could be amongst the worst hit. We urgently need a plan for recovery and for jobs.

“Like COVID, our economic recovery is going to require a truly national effort, and if we are successful in delivering on our commitment of creating 65,000 new jobs it will be down to a true Team Wales approach – with businesses, entrepreneurs, government and the public sector working in unison.

“The Welsh Conservatives have an ambitious plan and will stop at nothing in our drive to create the first business-friendly economy in Wales for a generation and ensure we recover from the pandemic and 22 years of Labour rule. 

“After two decades of failure in the halls of Cardiff Bay, Welsh Conservatives will place delivery at the heart of our manifesto and when we meet our commitments, we will ensure hardworking people in Wales benefit with a cut in income tax at the end of the next Senedd.

“Wales has a huge economic challenge ahead and we can’t afford another five years of Labour propped up by the nationalists who will clobber Welsh families with higher taxes.

"We need change and it’s time to turn the page on the same old Labour Party that has allowed Wales’ economic problems to fester over the past two decades and have no plan to fix things.”