Welsh Labour’s grandstanding failing our Ukrainian friends say Welsh Conservatives

At First Minister’s Questions in the Senedd today (Tuesday 28th) Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies questioned the First Minister on why his government has failed to adequately prepare to host Ukrainian refugees.

Concerns were raised with the First Minister as early as March, when Mr Davies wrote a letter (attached) highlighting the lack of sufficient preparations to meet the increased demand in housing and public services.

Responding to the Leader of the Opposition, the First Minister was unable to identify additional sources of housing that could be allocated to Ukrainian refugees.

It follows news from last week that a senior Labour Senedd member has raised concerns about the “availability of appropriate accommodation” to house Ukrainian refugees.

Commenting outside the chamber, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies MS said:

“I very much welcome the action taken across the UK to welcome both Ukrainian and Afghan refugees, proving that we are an outward looking nation.

“But once again, typical Labour are over-promising and under-delivering the nation of sanctuary which Labour ministers promoted. This needs to be not just be a slogan but a reality.

“Our public services must be prepared to adequately welcome our friends, but Mark Drakeford’s urge to unite with the Scottish nationalists to virtue-signal has backfired to the detriment of Ukrainian refugees.

“Sadly, through the non-answers provided by the First Minister today, we learned nothing about how this Labour government intends to meet their obligation to Ukrainian refugees.”