THE Welsh Conservatives have today accused Labour of 14 years of continuous failure in Wales, on the anniversary of the first Assembly elections.
The Tories claim that since Labour first came to power following the May 6 poll 14 years ago, Wales has remained the poorest part of the UK.
The party also claims that NHS targets have been consistently missed, educational attainment levels have dropped, and the claimant count rate has never been below the UK average.
Leader of the opposition, Andrew RT Davies AM, has hit out at a "stale, inactive government" and highlighted the ongoing presence of ministers who have served since Alun Michael's first Cabinet almost a decade and a half ago. "14 years of continuous Labour power in Wales, 14 years of continuous Labour failure," he said.
"The 2013 Cabinet is a photocopy of the 1999 Cabinet; many of the same faces and exactly the same mistakes and failures.
"The figures speak for themselves; on health, on education, on the economy — Labour ministers have presided over a decline in standards and a decline in economic output."
Lazy
He said an original target to raise Welsh GVA (gross value added) to 90 per cent had been quietly ditched, with economic output declining to 75 per cent.
"This remains a stale, inactive, lazy Labour Government and I urge Carwyn Jones to take responsibility and start supporting business and investing in public services."
Peter Black, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for South Wales West, also criticised the party, saying said the country had been left with a weak economy.
But Swansea West MP Geraint Davies, a Labour member, hit back, saying: "Since the start of the Assembly Government, investment has doubled in Wales to nearly £16 billion, which has funded growth improvements in health and education with support of a Labour Government in the UK, generating a 40 per cent increase in the size of the British economy.
"Since Britain has returned to a Conservative Government, we have seen a standstill economy.
"People remain on the dole, with cuts in funding to the Welsh Assembly Government and the poorest in our communities.
"How can the Conservatives criticise unemployment when the economy is in no sign of recovery after three years of mismanagement?"
