The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on the best of society– from the countless acts of compassion and volunteerism in our local communities, to the selfless public service of our admired NHS and key workers.
But the events of the past few months have also highlighted the political and economic fragility of Wales.
As large swathes of the English economy gradually re-open, Wales remains stubbornly in lock-down. Our rural communities continue to be disproportionately penalized by an arbitrary 5-mile travel ban imposed by the Welsh Labour Government, whilst our hoteliers and retailers in particular are left pleading for a road-map and a sense of urgency to re-open our tourism sector.
Whilst individual liberty and free markets may have been the short-term casualties of this pandemic, they cannot be allowed to become longer-term casualties with the re-election of a Welsh Labour Government.
By the time of next year’s Welsh Parliament poll, Labour will have ruled Wales with an iron-first for twenty-two years. Readers would be forgiven for thinking that successive Labour Governments had somehow presided over an economic renaissance and a land of milk and honey.
Ahead of next year’s Welsh Parliament elections, a bold, centre-right approach is needed more than ever before if the people and communities of Wales are to thrive and fulfil their potential. Old playbooks will no longer suffice and it will once again fall to Conservatives to take a sledgehammer to so much of the groupthink that prevails in Cardiff Bay.
It is time for every good Conservative to roll up their sleeves and to strain every last sinew to elect a Conservative First Minister and to offer a prosperous and more successful future for Wales.
