Welsh Lib Dem Senedd Candidate Sam Bennett calls on MPs to back Swansea with Rail investment.
Swansea Lib Dem Senedd Candidate, Sam Bennett has called on Labour MPs and MSs to reject condescending claims that Wales should be grateful for the meagre funding they are offered and fight for rail investment for Wales and secure electrification to Swansea.
Sam was speaking after the Chief Secretary to the Treasury responded to criticism that the rail investment being given to the Welsh Government was significantly less than they were entitled to under the Barnett formula, by telling Lib Dem MP, David Chadwick that he should be grateful for what was on offer.
Swansea Lib Dems have long campaigned for the main rall line to Swansea to be electrified as well as for a modern and improved local rail service. Scotland are getting £4billion investment compared to a measly £350million for Wales.
Commenting, Welsh Lib Dem Senedd candidate and Councillor Sam Bennett said:
“I am inviting our Labour MPs and Senedd Members to back Swansea and end the Great Train Robbery so that our rail services get the money they need for electrification and improvement.
Labour must stop taking Wales for granted, and the attitudes of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury must not be allowed to stand.
Our Labour MPs must make it their priority to eradicate ludicrous situations where rail projects in England are labelled as England and Wales projects, and back Wales and Swansea.”
Stop the Great Train Robbery
The Conservative Party and now the Labour Party have robbed Wales of billions of pounds worth of public transport funding over several years. Wales should be getting at least £5 billion in funding to use for public transport as a result of projects like HS2 & East-West Rail being built in England, but UK governments under both the Tories and now Labour have chosen to classify the project as "England and Wales" meaning Wales will receive no funding. Anyone in Wales would be able to testify how abysmal our public transport system is, yet the two old parties are determined to make sure we don't have the tools to improve this. Not only does this make life more difficult for everyday families, but it puts businesses off investing in Wales.