FIRST MINISTER Mark Drakeford mocked the recent King’s Speech as failing the country, but declined to condemn the use of the private sector to provide care in Wales today.

In First Minister’s questions, Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan wanted to know what discussions had been held with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council about the decision to privatise its remaining care services.

“Unison Cymru has raised concerns about the decision to privatise the remaining part of in-house home care and asked you to intervene, claiming the decision was made without proper consultation,” Ms Fychan said.

Mr Drakeford said the government had not been contacted, adding it was for councils to decide how best to provide care services. 

“I've seen the paper that went to RCT’s cabinet,” he said. “I don’t think it supports the member’s suggestion that this was somehow an unconsidered change by the local authority.”

The First Minister was asked by Plaid’s Delyth Jewell what assessment he has made of the impact on Wales of the King’s Speech.

“The impact of that speech will be seen in people being poorer than they need to be and our Earth being dirtier than it might otherwise have been,” Mr Drakeford said.

The First Minister asked the Welsh Conservatives to apologise to the Welsh people for the “foul-mouthed, misogynistic, paranoid atmosphere that pervaded 10 Downing Street during the Covid emergency.”

But Mr Drakeford said that an apology would not be coming from Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies — as he shares that misogyny.

In the following furore, Mr Drakeford told the Senedd he was happy to confirm that Mr Davies had not said anything misogynistic “today.”