Never one to miss a trend, Lib Dems have cottoned on to parsimony as the new politics by ‘exposing’ the travelling costs incurred by staff at the economic quango International Business Wales (IBW).
Notwithstanding the previous role of fellow AM and Euro-apparatchik, Mike German, Lib Dem leader Kirsty Williams feels that spending £750,000 on 35 assembly government credit cards is “disgusting” during a recession. There are many that will agree that an average of £22,000 per employee on travel looks excessive, especially compared to the responsible claims submitted by her cross-party colleagues.
But business, and especially attracting business investment, is all about meeting & greeting and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. Similarly, claiming that the £750K would be better spent on supporting home-grown firms is populist nonsense.
Yet releasing the story has had its effect; if only as another ill-disguised swipe at IWJ’s uncomfortable grip on the vagaries within the enterprise & transport portfolio. Consequently, other AMs will be interested to see if Williams is sufficiently incensed at the cost to “every Welsh taxpayer" that she raises the matter with Rodders at First Ministers questions this afternoon. We shall see.
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