Rhodri and the missing millions
I can scarcely believe it but Rhodri Morgan is admitting that money is going to be sent back to Brussels, Welsh money, because there is not sufficient match funding. It seems about £40 million could well be lost to Wales. This has been articulated by the man who said that no project would ever fail for lack of match funding. The Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones, when he was in opposition, always used to make this a crusade along with the other opposition parties that European money must be used in its totality and effectively, and it was, of course, the issue that brought down Alun Michael as First Minister.
I have written to Ieuan Wyn Jones asking if he approves of the First Minister’s statement and that this is really government policy, and have asked for an urgent reply. No urgent response has been received as yet!
It is hard to take this government seriously. They haven’t succeeded or tried hard to obtain money as a Barnett consequential on the Olympics, they haven’t obtained money from Westminster for the Foot & Mouth outbreak at Guildford, and now they are sending money back to Brussels!
