Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Minister for Economy and Finance Rhun ap Iorwerth AM has asked who the people of Wales can depend on to fight for the country after labelling Welsh Government as too reactive in seeking deals on funding for Wales as Brexit looms large.

In questions to Welsh Government Minister for Finance Rebecca Evans, the Plaid Cymru AM for Ynys Môn Rhun ap Iorwerth said the Labour Government in Cardiff needs to be more proactive and step up its efforts in putting forward cases for addition funding for Wales at this crucial time for the country.

Mr ap Iorwerth’s questions came following the announcement that Northern Ireland was set to receive £140m of new funding from UK Government with no clarification on whether a consequential would be received by the Welsh Assembly nor the Scottish Parliament.

Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“I sympathise with Welsh Government’s frustrations, clearly, but so much of this is about Welsh Government being reactive. The question here is who is being proactive in seeking deals for Wales on funding post-Brexit or now for that matter.

“Who can we depend on to fight for Wales? It seems to me that we can’t look to the Secretary of State for Wales because that office is redefining itself as UK Government’s voice in Wales, rather than Wales’ representation in the UK Government Cabinet, so we have to look to Welsh Government to go out there and seek deals for us.

“It seems to me that 10 members of one political party in Northern Ireland are using more leverage and Welsh Government, so we need to see a real ramping up of efforts by Welsh Government to be more proactive and putting forward cases for additional funding for Wales at this hugely crucial time for us as we face the uncertainty of Brexit.”