Labour-Plaid government has wasted opportunity to give people money back

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

Labour-Plaid government has wasted opportunity to give people money back - Kirsty

January 13, 2009 12:00 AM

Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has accused Labour and Plaid AMs of wasting a golden opportunity to put more money back in people's pockets.

As AMs meet this afternoon to finalise the local government settlement for 2009-10, Kirsty has slammed Ministers for wasting the chance to help people through the tough economic times.

Kirsty said:

"This local government settlement was a golden opportunity to put some money back in people's pockets. The Assembly Government cannot cut taxes - but it can fund local government properly, to take the pressure off council tax rises. The Labour-Plaid government's failure to do this is a major missed opportunity.

"When people are struggling with fuel bills, and uncertain about their jobs, the greatest help this government could provide is by giving people a helping hand with their council tax bills. Instead, they have failed to pass on even the relatively small increase in the Assembly's overall budget.

"Difficult times require a government with ideas that can step up and help people. By failing to deliver a decent deal for our councils, this Labour-Plaid government is failing the people of Wales."