The UK Government's Fiscal Statement

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:36 pm on 4 October 2022.

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Photo of Alun Davies Alun Davies Labour 1:36, 4 October 2022

I'm grateful to the First Minister for that. At one level, of course, it's possible to ridicule the chaos that exists in Westminster at the moment: a Prime Minister that models herself on Margaret Thatcher—the lady who is not for turning is spinning like a top, and, no, she doesn't herself know what decision she's going to take tomorrow. We know that the impact of her chaotic couple of weeks in Government has already sent the pound plummeting, the Bank of England being forced to promise to spend £65 billion just to hold the currency. We know that they are already ensuring that costs for business, for Government and for householders are rocketing. The Chancellor, in a moment of self-pity, said he'd had a tough time. Well, let me tell you, the people who've seen their mortgage rates rocketing are having a tougher time. And we know that these people, at the end of the day, still want to pay for tax cuts for the rich by cutting public services for the poor and vulnerable. First Minister, the people of Blaenau Gwent have always borne the brunt of Tory Governments in London. They've always borne the brunt of cuts to public services, cuts to benefits and lack of investment in an economy. First Minister, will the Welsh Government stand up and defend the people of Blaenau Gwent, and the people of Wales, against this chaotic regime in London?