Tory comments on Remploy reinforce Plaid’s devolution calls

Time for Labour to stop the rhetoric and take action

Plaid Cymru has reiterated its call for the Welsh Government to take real action to protect the interests of Welsh Remploy workers by bringing it under Welsh control following callous comments made by the Tory Pensions Secretary. Comments by Iain Duncan Smith which suggest that Remploy factories do not offer ‘proper jobs’ have revealed once again that the UK Government fails to understand the importance of continued support for disabled and vulnerable workers.

The Welsh Government has been accused of hypocrisy by Plaid Cymru after a Labour Minister declared the decision ‘wrong’ on social and economic grounds. This is despite a similar move by the former Labour Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain to close Remploy factories in 2007, where the closure of 28 factories was approved.

Plaid Cymru has now called on the Welsh Government to actively seek the devolution of the budget so that it can be protected and to avoid the closure of Welsh Remploy factories.

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Equal Opportunities Lindsay Whittle said:

“Plaid Cymru has long called for the budget for Remploy to be devolved so that it can be protected, and that is what the Welsh Government should be seeking to do. Clearly the Tory Secretary for Pensions doesn’t understand the importance of Remploy. These are factories that employ thousands of disabled workers who will find it extremely difficult to find work anywhere else.

“Remploy workers are facing redundancy and all the Labour Government is doing is wagging its finger. This rhetoric has no impact on the workers who want to know that their government is actively looking to support and protect their livelihoods.

“It is high time Labour listened and took action. Thousands of workers are facing redundancy and any hope of future employment is slim. Talk is cheap; Labour now needs to act.”

Appetite Grows for Devolution

The Welsh public have demonstrated a thirst for greater powers for Wales and Plaid must lead the way. That was the message from  Plaid Cymru’s Ieuan Wyn Jones during a panel discussion at the Plaid Cymru spring conference at Ffos Las, Trimsaran on the Future of the United Kingdom.

During the discussion, Mr Jones pointed out that recent polls show that the majority of people in Wales believe that the Welsh Government should have tax-raising powers. He said that the wheels had been set in motion on this with the Silk Commission’s inquiry
into the devolution of fiscal powers, and that Plaid Cymru is in a position to lead the debate on this.

Plaid Cymru’s Ieuan Wyn Jones AM said:

“We are currently in an interesting situation, where post-referendum on law making powers, the Welsh people have clearly indicated an appetite for more powers. They want Wales to have more responsibility and more accountability.

“Plaid Cymru now have an opportunity to move this debate forwards. We have submitted a detailed and thoughtful contribution to the Silk Commission which sets out which powers we think should be devolved to Wales, and we will continue to make the case for this. When Plaid Cymru is strong we can make our voices heard.

“At present, the electorate are ahead of the institutions on this matter, and we need to continue to push the agenda forwards.”