The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has today (15 July) spoken of her conversations with local business owners, who say that Mark Drakeford MS has created an ‘unfriendly environment’ for the Welsh hospitality sector.

Last Friday, the Welsh Government announced that hospitality businesses will have to wait until the 3rd August to reopen indoor trading. In reply to today's questions by Mrs Finch-Saunders, the First Minister said that: 

I think people are better advised to focus on those things they can do, rather than complain about the things that they can't, because there is ample scope for all those businesses to now reopen in Wales.

Commenting after her questioning of the First Minister, Janet said:

“I am dismayed at the contemptuous nature of the First Minister's reply to my question today. From my conversations with those who work in the hospitality industry, it is clear that they feel he has created an ‘unfriendly environment’ by refusing to allow safe indoor trade for another three weeks.

“Local business owners tell me that their hard-earned livelihoods are resting on a knife-edge, with an unprecedented number of cancellations made in the wake of Mark Drakeford’s reopening announcement last week.

“To unnecessarily stall the safe reopening of indoor trade is costing jobs and risks turning seaside resorts like Llandudno into ghost towns. The Welsh Government must urgently bring forward the date to restart indoor trade for those businesses that can introduce the necessary safety precautions.

“With projected turnover expected to be at 25% of pre-lockdown levels and continued uncertainty threatening thousands of jobs in this sector, it is clear that the First Minister has failed to grasp the dire situation facing our hospitality businesses.”

ENDS