‘Wales will have what it needs’ after flood devastation – Johnson
THE Prime Minister told the Welsh Conservatives conference yesterday: “We speak proudly now for people whose families have never voted Conservative in generations.”
Boris Johnson pledged to “repay their trust” and said it would be “fantastic” for the Tories take power from Welsh Labour and First Minister Mark Drakeford in next year’s Senedd election.
“Let’s get ready for 2021 and let’s make sure [Welsh Conservative leader] Paul Davies and his team show the desiccated Corbynistaa Drakeford where to get off,” said Mr Johnson in Llangollen as he pledged investment in education, technology and infrastructure to “spread opportunity”.
He added: “Let’s get on with taking this amazing place forward, delivering those vital improvements in transport infrastructure which are currently being ignored by the Welsh Labour Government – not just the A55, not just north-south connectivity, we’ve got to do that, we will do that, we will drive that forward – but I think we have got to bring an end to the lamentable chapter of the Brynlas tunnels of the M4. The Welsh Labour Government paid £144m into a study...into the Brynglas tunnels and they failed to build the bypass itself.”
He then repeated what he said last December on a visit to south Wales just days before the General Election with the pledge: “Let’s unblock the nostrils of the Welsh dragon with the Vicks inhaler of one-nation Welsh Conservative can-do spirit.”
In Wales, the Conservatives won six seats from Labour in that election taking its total to 14.
Mr Johnson also promised that Wales will “have what it needs” to rebuild after major floods.
After appearing at the Welsh Conservatives
conference, the Prime Minister said he was working with the Welsh Government to tackle the consequences of the flooding caused by recent storms.
He said: “We’ll be making about £4bn available overall for building new flood defences and we’ll make sure that Wales has what it needs to sort out everywhere. We’re putting record sums into flood defences and flood remediation of all kinds.”
He said Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart was speaking to Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford
about exactly what was needed, but at a “UK-wide level” the Government was giving “huge sums”.
During his speech at Llangollen Pavilion, the Prime Minister praised the exports of Wales as he claimed the country was the creator of the most popular TV show in Saudi Arabia.
He said: “I will leave you with this final and quite astonishing and most suggestive statistic I’ve heard for a while.
“What is the most popular TV programme in Saudi Arabia? Does anybody know? I will tell you. It’s called Sex Education, my friends, and it’s made in Newport in Gwent, isn’t that the most fantastic...
“I cannot think of a single fact that is more full of optimism for the future of humanity and our ability to come together.
“If the people in Saudi Arabia are responding to the Welsh approach to sex education, who can resist? Can Tehran be far behind? That is how Wales is helping to bring humanity together and break down barriers.”
It was not clear where the statistic was sourced from.
Mr Johnson also told the Welsh Tory conference there was a strong Welsh influence in Downing Street, in the form of dog Dilyn.
He said: “He is the randiest and most voluble Welsh occupant of No 10 since Lloyd George.”
Mr Johnson was returning to the constituency of Clwyd South, where he lost an election as a prospective MP in 1997.
He said: “I’m really overwhelmed that they have finally elected a Conservative MP.”