THE PRICE OF THAT RETIREMENT JOB...

It is a sad fact that the fate of our manufacturing industry (and our Steel industry) may be directly related to the fact that when members of the Westminster elite 'retire' from playing politics they tend to seek directorships with financial (city banks, etc) rather than directorships with manufacturing firms. This simple fact may directly show how divorced from the economic situation our manufacturing industry faces the Westminster elite have become and how furthering the economic interests of the city at all costs has become the Westminster elites central focus.

Quite how desperate the Westminster elite (and the City) have become in their efforts to tap into the finances of the People's Republic of China (one of the world's last brutal dictatorships) may be demonstrated by the fact that they recently chose to veto EU efforts to bring in tariffs to protect the European Steel industry from Chinese steel dumping.

The deterioration in the value of Welsh exports should be a real cause of concern, and is something that a Plaid Cymru government would address in government. The value of Wales’ exports has dropped alarmingly under this government by almost £2.5bn in two years. That’s a huge 17.5% drop at a time when other nations, by comparison, have managed to increase them.

Wales has historically performed well in the past. We export more than we import, and we compare much more favourably than other UK nations. What we need is a strategy to combat this trend. A Plaid Cymru government would establish a Wales Development Agency – a WDA fit for the 21^st century to work globally and throughout the UK, to boost Welsh exports and turn around Labour’s legacy of continued economic decline.

We want to sell our products, skills and ideas to the world. But unfortunately this is the second consecutive year where the value of Welsh exports have decreased significantly and the current Welsh Labour Government (and successive Westminster governments of various political hues) have shown no sign of producing a strategy to stop this continued decline.

The recent alarming figures, contrast with those from between 2007-2011 when Plaid Cymru Leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones was Minister for the Economy, Welsh exports increased by nearly £4.4bn, a 33% increase. During extremely difficult economic times, Plaid Cymru showed what real ambition and strong leadership can achieve. It’s now time for new leadership – Plaid Cymru is the change Wales desperately needs.

STANDING WITH OUR STEEL COMMUNITIES

Ahead of a crucial meeting of the board of Tata Steel to discuss the future of the company’s Port Talbot site, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said:

“This is a difficult day for those working in the steel industry as they wait to hear for a decision on the future of Port Talbot steelworks. Wales has a long tradition of steel production, and the industry could have a good future here with the right support from government.

“It is important is that Tata knows that the whole country is behind the workforce and that there is a great commitment to the steel industry and its workforce here, and I hope that the Welsh Government has communicated that to senior management at the company.

"We have a skilled and experienced steel workforce in Wales and I hope that the Welsh Government will be proactive as it fights for their future.”

Plaid Cymru South Wales West AM Bethan Jenkins said:

“The people of Port Talbot face a difficult wait for news today. Given the gravity of the decision being taken today, the Welsh Government should be proactive in seeking to protect the future of steel production in Wales.

That's why I cannot understand why the Labour Welsh Government has not sent a representative to Mumbai today to make the case for Welsh steel directly to the board. Neither is the Conservative Secretary of State for Wales present. This industry is too important to lose and I hope that both governments have made serious representations to the company.”