NATIONALISTS today branded the Welsh government’s priorities for a stronger economy “old announcements repackaged as new.”

Plaid Cymru’s economy spokesman Luke Fletcher said: “This begs the question about what the minister has been doing as the Welsh economy is more precarious than ever, under his watch, and the country is mired as a low-wage economy.”

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething was setting out his priorities for a stronger economy and launched the Welsh government’s latest economic mission in the Senedd.

Mr Gething said Wales’s economic path was linked to its pandemic response, including extending the childcare offer, building 20,000 homes for social rent, and supporting over 27,000 young people to access skills and employment opportunities.

The economy minister said the four areas the Welsh government is focused on include a just transition and green prosperity, a platform for young people, partnerships for stronger regions and investing for growth.

Conservative economy spokesman Paul Davies reminded the Senedd that Labour had had responsibility for the Welsh economy for over 20 years and suggested that “Mr Gething get on with the job.”

Mr Gething explained that “forecasts show the UK is on course to be one of the worst-performing advanced economies this year and next, both in terms of high inflation and weak growth.”

Mr Gething said he was working for a return of post-EU funds and said the bloc was still Wales’s most important trading partner.

“I am hosting an economic summit tomorrow which is bringing together over 150 partners, businesses, trade unions and stakeholders across Wales,” he said.