To have had tears in my eyes watching Mark Drakefords outburst today

[Searchingforsun]

The all encompassing anger he obviously feels towards the Tories and what they’ve done to our country, was something I feel so strongly too.

I found it so refreshing that someone in UK politics, who regardless of whether you agree with his politics or not is undeniably principled, has finally spoken out in this way

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-63303690

Do you live in Wales user? because i do, and i dont know anyone who 'dislikes' him.. in the town i live and work in, the opposite is true.

Strict lockdowns were to protect people health, not for personal profit. If you want to be angry - be angry at the Westminster Tories who broke lockdown and partied through it.

We have had an amoral Tory Government for 12 years wrecking this country. How any of them have the gall to tell us to keep cutting back while they set out to reward the richest people in society, and put the dimmest people in charge of governance is breathtaking.

I do wish more conviction politicians would shout louder.
I agree with Scotlands First Minister - the Tory Party are detestable.

I don't like his general politics and general religious zeal . I'd say that he is not popular in my area of Wales (understatement really). But surely no one can deny if seen in isolation and, on its own merit, his response today was admirable, passionate and I don't think anyone could watch it and fail to at least appreciate that passion and rigour. I agreed with him today.

Hahaha. That’s hilarious. He’s an absolute twat. The health service and education is even worse than in England and that’s saying something. But he got a bit angry so that makes him wonderful! Hahaha.

Used to work alongside Drakeford in my early 20’s. He’s a brilliant, smart, measured man. Our political parties weren’t the same but I have a lot of time and respect for him.

Wow that’s genuine passion and commitment right there. Westminster Labour (whom I’d vote for tbh) seem a bit flat by comparison.

Absolutely. I live in Wales and yet I used to wish I was being governed by Nicola Sturgeon. Imagine how stupid I feel now!

It's easy to lionise another country's government and quite different when you live here.

who everyone in Wales detests,

You've spoken to all 3 million plus? 😁

It's amazing reading elements of Mumsnet at times. I flit between Scotland and England - I watch the regional news in both countries. There are people in Scotland who believe only Scotland has delays when calling for ambulances, or has failing schools. There are people in England who feel the same about England - their NHS is the only one collapsing, their schools are the only ones failing.
All across the UK public services are being starved of investment while money is thrown at vanity projects that benefit a minority of the UK. The HS2 is one such project.
We need to invest in Public Services - the NHS, Education, Police, Fire and Prison Services, Mental Health, local transport, affordable housing in areas where there is employment - not tagged on to rural villages where people have to commute.

The Tories want to reward bankers - there is no shortage of bankers! They are paid well enough and rewarded with bonuses well in excess of Public Service Workers annual pay!

I agree OP. I would never vote for Labour, but it was clear that the years of frustration of trying to deal with the Tories had built up.

Strict lockdowns were to protect people health, not for personal profit not sure how picking up a kettle in the same place you pick up a cabbage was more likely to spread covid. The man was insane with his rules.

YANBU. This government has destroyed the UK.

I think my point is being missed here, I am not a Mark Drakeford fan or a Labour supporter.

Surely everyone on this thread whatever their own personal political beliefs thinks that the current Tort government are an absolute disgrace and in my opinion they need to be held truly accountable by other politicians and that’s what Mark Drakeford is doing.

I agree the Welsh NHS is a disgrace, my DH would be dead if we’d not gone private for some of his treatment. My DC’s education during the main exam years was destroyed by online learning. However in this context a man of principle, the majority of who’s policies I absolutely do not agree with, holding the Tories to account restored some of my faith in politics.

Welsh. Worked with him at Welsh Government 20 years ago.

You absolutely don’t speak for me. Or about 500 other people I could name.

Maybe when you’ve spent some time at the political coalface you’ll have an idea how fucking impossible a job it is.

"Spineless" is a bit of an odd word to use when discussing the response to a viral pandemic. Do you think a display of plucky Welsh spirit would have intimidated coronavirus into a decline.

Wasn’t she amazing? It’s fantastic to see opposition politicians letting the passion show. She and Drakeford give me hope.

I fail to see how Wales was wrecked by slightly longer lockdowns. It was hell to live through and some of his policies were stupidly over cautious, but I can’t say our local economy was any worse for it. As a new small business owner I didn’t get a penny of support from SEISS or other Westminster controllers grants, however the Welsh Government local business grants saved my bacon.

I agree the Welsh NHS is a disgrace, my DH would be dead if we’d not gone private for some of his treatment. My DC’s education during the main exam years was destroyed by online learning

This could be said by residents in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

I'm with you op. As someone who's lived in Wales for 17 years, I quire like drakeford. He genuinely cared about Wales. Its ashame our constituency was taken over by the tories more than a decade ago and seems impossible to change now. I've got plenty of angry words about them myself.

Agreed. My cousin in England couldn’t get a proper assessment, was fobbed off, and is now sadly passed away from the massive tumour that they didn’t properly investigate.

You don't speak for me. Or anyone I know in Wales.

Indeed

it saddens me that people still think lockdown was right.

but put that to one side even
agree with pp comment on Gordon Brown

it feels like no politician has cared about people for decades now.

with Drakeford, it just feels like people are thinking “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”.

I have been wondering if Truss thought she could get away with anything because of how people seemed to love lockdown and authoritarianism.

My previous message was supposed to be in response to this. You don't speak for me, my family, my friends or my colleagues.

The trouble is whilst the general population are all focussed on who’s right and who’s wrong and what a mess particular politicians or parties have made of things, the Tories are actually in charge in Westminster and destroying our country almost irreparably. Relying on the public and party infighting to ensure they’re not held accountable.

I feel proud to be represented by such a principled man.

Andrew RT Davies - the guy he was responding to - is the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd. He's an absolute arse who's sole purpose is to antagonise and criticise Labour. Awful man.

The deflections and blaming others on this thread is appalling. The Tories are despicable terrible awful people. No amount of pointing at Gordon Brown, or blaming Mark Drakeford's son can get away from that.