The Answer to Welsh Regeneration Lies in the Soil

Plaid warns that rural Wales will be failed by Carwyn 

Jones’s new cabinet

13/05/2011

Labour fails to recognise importance of agriculture to Welsh economy

Plaid Cymru has warned that the needs of rural Wales will be under threat from Carwyn Jones’s new Labour cabinet.  Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales, Simon Thomas expressed his dismay that under the Labour minority government the Agriculture portfolio would be looked after by a deputy minister whose responsibilities would also include the weighty area of European programmes.  Llyr Huws Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales, also criticised the decision to relegate responsibility for agriculture to a deputy Minister adding that the decision to appoint an AM who does not have a rural constituency was a further kick in the teeth for Welsh farmers and brings into question the judgement of Carwyn Jones as First Minister. 

Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales, Simon Thomas, said:

“Agriculture is of huge importance to the Welsh economy as a whole.  The work of Elin Jones as Plaid Cymru agriculture Minister over the past 4 years was widely praised across rural Wales.  She championed the needs of farmers and ensured that their voice was heard.  I am very concerned that Carwyn Jones’s decision to relegate responsibility over agriculture to a Deputy Minister in his minority Labour government puts the future of rural Wales and our farming communities under threat. Our farming communities need and deserve to have their voices heard, especially at a time when their livelihood is under threat from the ConDem government in London with their plans to end the single farm payment.  Labour promised the Welsh electorate that it would stand up for Wales, it would seem that they are already breaking this promise to rural Wales by treating our farming communities with such contempt .

Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales, Llyr Huws Gruffydd, said:

“Now more than ever, Wales’ farming communities need a strong voice to stand up to the London Government and their plans to get rid of CAP payments.  That is why Carwyn Jones’s decision is so ill judged.  Furthermore, it beggars belief that Carwyn Jones has decided to give responsibility for agriculture to someone who does not have a rural constituency and is therefore not accountable to Wales’s farming communities. 

“Plaid Cymru will not sit back and allow this minority Labour government to fail rural Wales.  We will be vigorous and constructive in opposition and always focussed on ensuring that the best deal for farming communities is delivered.”

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Plaid AM Simon Thomas, a likely challenger to succeed Ieuan Wyn Jones as party leader, said: “Agriculture is of huge importance to the Welsh economy as a whole. The work of Elin Jones as Plaid Cymru Agriculture Minister over the past four years was widely praised across rural Wales. She championed the needs of farmers and ensured that their voice was heard.

“I am very concerned that Carwyn Jones’ decision to relegate responsibility over agriculture to a deputy minister in his minority Labour government puts the future of rural Wales and our farming communities under threat.

“Our farming communities need and deserve to have their voices heard, especially at a time when their livelihood is under threat from the Con-Dem Government in London with their plans to end the single farm payment.

“Labour promised the Welsh electorate that it would stand up for Wales, it would seem that they are already breaking this promise to rural Wales by treating our farming communities with such contempt.” Conservative AM William Graham claimed that farming Communities throughout Wales would be “alarmed” that the sector would not be represented in the Cabinet.

“It is as though he has forgotten the lesson he learnt during the foot and mouth crisis, the growing food production and marketing sector in Wales together with the importance of ensuring food security in future years,” he said.

“Elin Jones kept farmers informed and moved policies forward whenever possible with parties united. The First Minister must restore a rural voice to the cabinet as an urgent priority”.