PM causes ‘serious confusion and upset’ on flooding, claims Welsh minister

The prime minister has been criticised for announcing plans to provide a council tax rebate to families hit by flooding without clarifying that the rebates would be available in England only.

The prime minister has been criticised for announcing plans to provide a council tax rebate to families hit by flooding without clarifying that the rebates would be available in England only.

As he visited communities battered by flooding in Pembrokeshire, David Cameron took to twitter to announce:

“I can confirm we will fund councils that give council tax rebates to people whose homes have been flooded.”

But the PM was later forced to clarify that the help would not be extended to Wales as, he said, it was an area of responsibility for the Welsh government.

During a presentation at the St Davids Assembly rooms Ltd in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, Cameron told reporters:

“Flood defence and flood prevention is a devolved issue, so it is for the Welsh Assembly government to take all the action and I know they are doing that. We have obviously offered to help.”

Cameron has since been criticised by the Welsh government with natural resources minister, Alun Davies, accusing him of causing “serious confusion and upset.” Davies expanded in comments released last night:

“David Cameron’s visit to Wales has caused serious confusion and upset. Whilst in Wales he announced on social media that ‘we will fund councils that give council tax rebates to people whose homes have been flooded’. There was no ambiguity to that statement.

“Communities he was visiting today would obviously expect the support announced today, in Wales, to be available to them. We now understand that Number 10 has clarified his remarks and there will be no extra support for Welsh councils and businesses. That’s a real disappointment to those people in Wales he’s been visiting today. I have to ask what the purpose of today’s visit was, beyond an attempt to get a few local headlines.”

Pembrokeshire MP and Wales office minister, Stephen Crabb, commented:

“When it comes to discussions about specific pots of money, at the moment we are all reaching to existing pots, that’s why in England they are finding money in existing budgets and Welsh government likewise. If it gets to a point where the assessment of damage is such that Welsh government meant makes a formal request to the United Kingdom for extra help, then we are into a different game and that is a different discussion but at the moment that request hasn’t come from Welsh government.”

One Response to “PM causes ‘serious confusion and upset’ on flooding, claims Welsh minister”

  1. davidhill

    Forgive the pun, but a mere drop in the ocean.

    Cameron tries his best but he does not know the life that most have to endure in this life at the coal-face due to his privilege background and where basically the wrong man was chosen to be prime minister – http://worldinnovationfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-wrong-man-was-made-prime-minister.html

    Also Cameron would not go far wrong if he took on board what Blair and his astute advisers were told but did nothing as usual – http://worldinnovationfoundation.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/politicians-and-whitehall-are-greatest.html

    Dr David Hill
    World Innovation Foundation

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