IT’S DIFFICULT to remember such empty criticism from a politician as those words uttered by Labour leader Ed Miliband on his first visit to Wales in as long as I can remember. In his assessment of the budget, there was no detail and absolutely no alternative. I’m not sure what he was listening to in the House of Commons last Wednesday – but it couldn’t have been the Chancellor’s budget statement.

In that, we heard that 167,000 people in Wales will now be taken out of income tax altogether, while 1.1 million will get an income tax cut. We heard that there will be additional support for the air ambulance in Wales and a cut to the Severn Bridge tolls in 2018. We heard of more progress in the development of a tidal lagoon.

On top of that, Mr Miliband had the gall to criticise Welsh funding, when only a matter of weeks ago, Conservatives in government put that issue to bed for good. With the introduction of a so-called ‘funding floor’, David Cameron has ensured funding levels for Wales will be protected for generations to come. That’s progress. Quite what Ed Miliband offers is anyone’s guess.

Andrew RT Davies, Welsh Conservative Leader