THE Conservative government has refused to meet the devolved administrations to discuss the worsening coronavirus crisis, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has revealed in an exclusive interview with the Morning Star.

He spoke out as local lockdowns have been announced across the UK. 

“It is baffling to me that, where there have been major announcements about difficulties in England and in Wales – we have had to impose lockdown restrictions in Rhondda Cynon Taf – the UK government has not been prepared to meet [us],” Mr Drakeford said.

“There was a very specific request made on Monday for a meeting and there has been nothing.”

Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj said that she was disturbed by the news.

She said: “It’s equally shocking and disappointing that the UK government refused to meet the Welsh government to discuss the worsening crisis.

“It shows an utter disregard for everyone in Wales, and it’s almost what we’ve come to expect from a Conservative government that has had a weak grasp of devolution at best, and a deliberate intent to undermine it in some cases.”

Unison Wales regional secretary Karen Loughlin also condemned the Tories’ stance.

“By refusing a meeting, Boris Johnson’s government appear to have left devolved nations to tackle this worsening Covid crisis on their own,” she said.

“Our members have fought tirelessly, putting themselves on the front line throughout this pandemic to keep our vital health and community services running.

“The very least they expect from the UK government is to show the same commitment and provide all the necessary resources and support to the Wales government to protect our communities.”

The First Minister also said that when meetings do happen, the conversations are worthwhile, but that Mr Johnson’s government does not organise them regularly.

He added: “It would surely have been simple to organise a weekly meeting in our diaries on the same day so we could share experiences and learning, but that seems to be beyond the capacity of the UK government to put that in place.”

Mr Drakeford’s brutal assessment is that the Johnson government is struggling to cope with the pressures created by the pandemic.

He  also condemned some ministers for their apparent ignorance of the devolution settlement.

“In some parts of the UK government, offence has been taken at devolution," the First Minister said.

“I think some ministers are discovering for the first time that devolution exists and when they find that Wales has the authority and capacity to make decisions for ourselves, they just don’t like it.

“Some parts of Whitehall, who have almost not needed to know about us and Scotland for the past 21 years, are surprised to find that we are mature parliaments with proven and democratic authorities of our own.

“They think it is all a terrible mistake.”