The Welsh Secretary, David TC Davies, has rejected accusations that Wales would miss out on funding from Conservative national service plans. The Tories recently proposed a 12-month national service for 18-year-olds, which Mr. Davies explained would be supported by the winding down of the Shared Prosperity Fund and closing tax loopholes, providing £1.5bn in funding.
Though some have questioned the potential consequences of defunding such schemes in Wales, Mr. Davies dismissed these concerns. Speaking to BBC Politics Wales, he stated he was convinced “the young people of Wales” would be eager to take part in the new service.
The service would offer 18-year-olds an opportunity to contribute to their communities by joining, or volunteering with, full-time military services. The proposal’s objectives are to help individuals who are not in employment, education or training, or are at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity, to move away from social exclusion.
The Conservative proposal was met with criticism from other political parties. The Labour called it “another desperate £2.5bn unfunded commitment”, while Liberal Democrats expressed concern over cuts to troop numbers and suggested that reversing these cuts could show a genuine commitment to defence. Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville-Roberts condemned the plan as “desperate [and] bonkers.”
Mr. Davies concluded the interview by defending the Conservative’s 14-year record in government and criticising the running of education and health services in Wales by the opposition. The shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens responded that economic stability and change matter to the electorate and that her party was offering six steps towards achieving these goals. Ms. Saville-Roberts called for Plaid Cymru to represent Wales’s interests in the current election campaign and the Liberal Democrat councillor Rodney Berman stated that people were “turning to us more” because the party had “something valid to offer.
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