A Tory minister launched a fiery attack on the Labour-run Welsh Government on BBC Question Time.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies took aim at Mark Drakeford’s administration as tonight’s show debated Sir Keir Starmer’s previous claim that it would be his “blueprint” for power.
Mr Davies told the audience in Cardiff: “I’ve also sent three children through the local comprehensive school and they have less chance of getting GCSEs and A-levels because they went to a state comprehensive in Wales.
“I care about the NHS because when I rang an ambulance on 999 for my father-in-law he had to wait 15 hours for it.
“And he had to wait for about six hours outside the hospital in Nick’s constituency where they’ve had to build fans to blow away the diesel fumes from ambulances which have been waiting six, nine or 12 hours.”
Host Fiona Bruce then put it to him that the NHS in England is “not doing too well”.
The Tory MP, who represents Monmouth, continued: “Let’s do the comparison 20,000 people in Wales have been waiting more than two years for an operation. In England with 20 times the population it is none.
“We’ve got the Welsh Government bringing in blanket 20mph speed limits, no new roads being built, they’ve just legislated to allow road charging to be levied on the M4.”
Labour frontbencher Nick Thomas-Symonds, who was also on the panel, interrupted saying the speed limit was “not blanket” and “there’s no road charge on the M4”.
Mr Davies went on: “Just let me finish. How can you defend £140 million for a whole load of extra Senedd members in Cardiff Bay when you can’t sort out waiting lists in Wales.”
His comments prompted applause from members of the audience.
Earlier in the show, Mr Thomas-Symonds agreed that the Labour-run Welsh Government would be Sir Keir’s “blueprint” if he wins the keys to 10 Downing Street.
Pressed about NHS waiting lists in Wales, the Torfaen MP said: “When was satisfaction with the Welsh NHS at its highest? It was in the early part of 2010 after 13 years of Labour government at Westminster.
“Why is the NHS struggling all over the UK, not just in Wales, what’s the thing that changed in 2010? The Conservatives came into power in Westminster and that’s what the problem is.”
Asked about education after Pisa assessments showed Wales is the poorest performing UK nation for reading, maths and science, he added:”I sent my children to school here at state schools in my constituency. We have absolutely excellent teachers in Wales.
“You can look across different subjects and make different point comparisons if you want to. But the Welsh Government spending envelope is determined by Westminster and that’s where the problem has been since 2010.”
