"Welsh election delay would leave many feeling disenfranchised"

Despite Welsh Government Ministers and all five other North Wales county councils confirming that local authorities have discretion to pay out Business Grants to self-catering businesses unable to meet Welsh Government eligibility criteria, but able to prove they are a legitimate business, Flintshire Council alone continues to insist that they are ineligible, leaving several struggling.

Questioning the First Minister, I therefore called on him to "place on the record" that local authorities are able to use their discretion to support such businesses, and he confirmed this to be the case. It is therefore shocking that Flintshire Council alone is still rejecting this, when equivalent businesses in every other North Wales county have received this essential support from their councils.

Many constituents are raising concerns with me about Covid-19 vaccination and I questioned Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about these during their second briefing on the rollout of coronavirus vaccines in North Wales for our region's Welsh Conservative MSs and MPs.

I gave my first report as Welsh Conservative Chief Whip and Business Manager at our Shadow Cabinet meeting, and in my new role as Shadow Finance Minister I attended the Welsh Parliament's Finance Committee for the first time, which considered the Committee's draft report on the Welsh Government Draft Budget 2021-22.

Speaking in the Senedd Debate on 'The Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill', which could pave the way for this year's Senedd election to be delayed by up to six months, I stressed that a delay would leave "many feeling disenfranchised, especially when the pandemic has shone such a bright light on Devolved Government in Wales".

I emphasised that elections have taken place during the pandemic in other countries and that Welsh Conservatives have always maintained that the Welsh Parliament elections should take place on the May 6, 2021, except in exceptional emergency circumstances.

Questioning the Counsel General, I challenged the Welsh Government's decision to take legal action against the UK Government's UK Internal Market Act 2020, when UK Ministers amended the legislation to protect the 'common frameworks' agreed with Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland, preventing barriers to internal trade within the UK which would disadvantage Welsh consumers and businesses.

I chaired meetings of the Cross-Party Groups on Disability and on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency.

Other online engagements included 'COVID-19 impact on Hepatitis C Policy', Gylfinir Cymru/Curlew Wales, Care and Repair Cymru, Welsh Ambulance Service, Royal British Legion Wales Manifesto Launch and Marine Energy in Wales.

Stay safe. If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.