DAVIES: Labour’s hypocrisy over Ford plant

DAVIES: Labour’s hypocrisy over Ford plant

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives has today criticised Labour’s ‘hypocrisy’ over the Ford plant in Bridgend after it emerged the First Minister and his Economy Secretary have yet to meet with the company’s USA hierarchy.  

In answers to two written questions submitted by Andrew RT Davies (attached) – Carwyn Jones and Ken Skates make clear they have not met with Ford USA representatives to discuss the firm’s announcement that it will discontinue the production of two engines made at its Bridgend plant by 2020 – and surprisingly have no plans to do so.

Mr Davies has expressed his ‘dismay’ at the revelation particularly as the unions have been vocal in stating this decision has been taken in American headquarters – rather than in the corridors of its European office.

And Davies has described the failure of the Welsh Government to secure even one meeting with Ford USA as ‘exasperating’ given the political grandstanding of Labour’s shadow secretary for Wales, Jo Stevens, on the issue in the House of Commons yesterday.

Davies said:

“The dismal failure of Labour’s First Minister and the Economy Secretary to meet even once with Ford’s USA representatives is alarming and demonstrates the hypocrisy in Labour’s approach to protecting jobs and securing the long-term future of the site.

“Workers will rightly feel let down by Labour’s spectacular hypocrisy and distinct failure to take any discernible action particularly as the site falls right in the heart of the First Minister’s constituency.

“Carwyn Jones’ inability to secure a meeting with the Ford USA is either through a lack of influence or lack of effort – both of which are simply unacceptable.

“People want to see action from Labour not empty words and with the unions fighting hard and standing up for the employees it’s time the Welsh Government did likewise and stepped up to the plate.”