Minister’s Porsche criticism labelled ‘phoney’

Speaking after Labour’s Public Services Minister criticised Pembrokeshire council’s decision to lease a Porsche for its Chief Exec, along with an apparent pledge to lower council chief executive pay in Wales – all ahead of a scheduled speech in which he will set out his plans for improving leadership in the public sector – Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said:

“This phoney criticism of Porsche-fuelled council waste isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.

“Welsh Conservatives have long slammed over-inflated senior pay in Wales, yet Labour – which has overseen our councils since 1999 – has done next to nothing to stop it.

“The minister had the chance to vote for Welsh Conservative amendments that would’ve seen all senior council staff subject to pay guidelines.

“He didn’t.

“His hypocrisy knows no bounds.

“As he sets out ways to improve leadership in the public sector here, I urge him to take no tips from successive Labour-led governments, who have run our councils for over 15 years of top level waste and excess.”