The fact that both the UK and Welsh Budget were heavy on the politics and light on the economics was hardly a surprise due to the sheer scale of the cuts and the Assembly elections next year means politicians of all parties want to be able to blame someone else for the pain still to come.
And from a strategic political perspective this approach is understandable, but given the mess Wales is in after the credit crunch and recession and the significant ongoing challenges the country faces in the coming months and years this week budget it looks rather cheap and hollow.
A reminder of the challenge was report from Sheffield Hallum University on worklessness in the weakest economy in the UK this week stated that in the South Wales Valleys alone to reach the current GB average there would need to be 38,000 new jobs created.
I'll repeat that figure 38,000 jobs just to stand still, even the most optimistic economist couldn’t see that happening in the Valleys in the good times.
And while the politicians at both ends of the M4 continue their pointless arguments of who got us into this mess and what they will and wont cut, the most needy communities in North and South Wales are in need of practical help before they reach the point of no return and can’t be rescued.Any source
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