Mark Drakeford has blasted the UK government's treatment of Ukrainian refugees in his address to the annual Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno.

In a speech that also covered the cost-of-living crisis, the future of the United Kingdom and the upcoming May local elections, the First Minister devoted the beginning of his address to the “dreadful and deeply distressing actions taking place in Ukraine”, focusing largely on the plight of refugees fleeing the conflict.

Describing the Russian invasion as "barbaric", Drakeford said that Kremlin decision-makers "must be held responsible for every human tragedy and every war crime committed."

He called for economic sanctions on Russia of the "greatest possible severity", and humanitarian relief "of the greatest possible generosity."

 

 

“The strength of feeling in Wales demands no less," he added.

Referencing the extensive humanitarian aid collection efforts in Wales, the First Minister called Westminster's reluctance to loosen visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees "shamefully at odds with the instinctive generosity of so many people across our country."

 “This is a government that worries about the human rights of oligarchs, while the Home Secretary sends exhausted refugees on a European hunt for a bureaucrat willing to accept their visa application," he told conference.

“So many of the people displaced from Ukraine are children - women and the elderly make up most of the remainder.

“The Home Secretary worries about security, but surely it’s the security of those children and those women which should be uppermost in our minds."

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Earlier this week, Mr Drakeford suggested that the Home Office should be stripped of its responsibilities towards Ukrainian refugees, pointing to its "long history of ‘hostile regimes’ to people coming from elsewhere in the world."

Instead, he argued, the responsibility should be "put in the hands of a dedicated group of people at the UK level who will do what is necessary".

Elsewhere in his speech, the First Minister took aim at Rishi Sunak over the cost-of-living crisis, which he said "has its roots there in the heart of Downing Street."

Drakeford accused the Chancellor of pouring "petrol on the fire" with his planned increase to National Insurance contributions, which is set to take effect next month.

Despite these challenges, however, the First Minister reaffirmed his commitment to the Union.

"I believe passionately that a successful future can be crafted for the UK.

“A United Kingdom to which people in all its nations would choose to belong and want to belong.

“A United Kingdom of the future – a UK which has a future – will be one in which power is redistributed radically to its nations and regions, in which the reality of devolution is recognised and respected."

Mark Drakeford's speech to the conference in Llandudno followed this morning's address by UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Starmer praised Welsh Labour for its continued electoral success in Wales, and Mark Drakeford for his leadership.

“Mark, people trusted you to bring them through the storm of the pandemic, and you did," he added.

"The Welsh Labour government is living proof of what Labour looks like in power - how things can be done differently, and better.

"Every day you demonstrate the difference that Labour makes - a blueprint for what Labour can do across the UK."

Like the First Minister, Mr Starmer used the first stretch of his speech to discuss the war in Ukraine, but focused more on the military response to the Russian invasion.

The Labour leader had just returned from a visit to Estonia, where, he said, he confirmed "Labour’s unshakeable commitment to NATO" to military personnel in the country and Estonian politicians.

"Labour is the party of collective security, Labour is the party of NATO, Labour is the party of internationalism, and Labour stands with the Ukrainian people," he added.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a military alliance of thirty countries, that was first formed in opposition to the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Notionally a defensive alliance, NATO also led the occupation of Afghanistan from 2003 and military intervention in Libya in 2011.

The Welsh Labour conference continues tomorrow.