Liz Saville Roberts clashes with PM over inflation

Welsh Secretary David T. C. Davies has blasted the Labour Welsh Government in Cardiff for banning meal deals in the Principalities and hugely increasing the cost of living.

The idea had been considered by the Conservative UK Government to tackle obesity but has been indefinitely suspended by Rishi Sunak because of the cost of living crisis.

However, the Labour Welsh Government in Cardiff led by Jeremy Corbyn supporter Mark Drakeford is pressing ahead with trialling the new policy on meal deals on food with high fat or sugar content.

The blow to Tesco and other supermarket chain’s meal deals could be rolled out by Sir Keir Starmer across England if he gets the keys to Downing Street, Mr Davies has warned.

READ MORE: Mark Drakeford blames Cardiff riots on ‘13 years of Tory erosion’ in Wales[LATEST]

Labour has denied that they would introduce the policy into England.

But a furious Mr Davies has raised doubts about that.

He said: “It is absolutely staggering that just a few weeks ago a Labour minister claimed there were no plans to ban meal deals.

“But Cardiff Bay’s decision to plough ahead with the new legislation will end the affordable food item as we know it.

“Granted, I fully appreciate the importance of tackling obesity and other illnesses, but there is a fine line to be had between enhancing public health and encroaching on people’s choice.”

Don’t miss…
Sunak may have ‘given up’ but he can always rely on Labour MPs to help out[INSIGHT]
Brexit deal outrage after EU pulls rug from under UK over £82bn scheme[REVEAL]
POLL: Do you accept Matt Hancock’s apology for ‘inadequate’ pandemic response?[REACT]

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

He went on: “It is both fundamentally wrong for Labour to restrict access to affordable food during cost-of-living pressures and for them to decide what they deem to be acceptable food that we can enjoy.

“Greater action is needed to tackle obesity, but the way to do that is to educate and advise on healthy eating, not imposing harsh rules that will hit society.”

The leftwing Welsh First Minister has used devolved powers to impose the ban which means that low-income families will not be able to get cheap offers from supermarkets on popular food items.

Ironically, it has come into force the day that Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville-Roberts used her question in PMQs to complain about “one in five families in Wales” going hungry.

This is despite the fact that her party has a partnership agreement with Labour in the Welsh Assembly.

The new policy would mean that by 2025 restrictions on where certain foods can be placed in a supermarket as part of its plan to tackle obesity and unhealthy eating.

The Welsh Labour plans also go further than the ones suspended by the Conservative UK Government.

While they will ban the three for two and buy-one-get-one-free deals the intention is also to stop temporary price reductions to help hard-pressed families.

The move will affect items like pizza, crisps and chocolate bars but would also impact dairy products like milk, cheese and butter because of their fat content.

The Welsh Government has insisted the meal deal ban would only apply to a restricted group of unhealthy food items.

Labour’s deputy minister for mental health and wellbeing Lynne Neagle said: “This legislation will take forward our commitment to improve diets and help prevent obesity in Wales.

“Our aim is to rebalance our food environments towards healthier products, so that the healthy choice becomes the easy choice.”

They also point to Public Health Wales data which says 60 percent of people in Wales are overweight and one in four children are obese by the age of five.

Source: Read Full Article