Labour driving wedge between UK nations says Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns

Labour is driving a wedge between the nations of the United Kingdom, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has claimed.

Mr Cairns used a speech at the Conservative conference to claim Labour was "flirting" with nationalism.

He attacked First Minister Mark Drakeford's comments that his support for the Union was not unconditional.

The MP for the Vale of Glamorgan said Brexit gives the potential to strengthen the UK.

It comes as Mr Cairns announced £55m over 15 years for a Mid Wales Growth Deal - a figure the Welsh Government said was "derisory".

Meanwhile Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Manchester conference there should be "no doubt" the only alternative to the Brexit proposals he will put to Brussels is no-deal.

Mr Drakeford told a committee earlier this year that his government's support for the union "can't possibly be unconditional because there are other moving parts here of which we are not in control".

The first minister had said: "If you believe the UK is a voluntary association of four nations you have to face the possibility that some component parts of the United Kingdom may no longer choose to be part of it."

Mr Drakeford later said that his support for the union was "unambiguous" after Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price claimed the first minister was "indy-curious" - a phrase used to describe people interested in the concept of independence.

"How can you be passionate and ambitious for a country only under certain circumstances," Mr Cairns asked the conference in Manchester.

He said Mr Drakeford "wants further constitutional change and greater separation, when businesses and communities are longing for certainty".

"Labour's flirting with the nationalists is driving a wedge between our nations," he said.

The Welsh secretary said there were "traditional proud Labour supporters, passionate about our Union who may have voted Leave in the referendum who feel let down and rejected by the state of the Labour party" and its Brexit stance.

"Ignoring the will of the people and attempting to undermine our unity as a nation won't distract the public from [Labour's] failings on the Welsh NHS and education system," he said.

Labour and Plaid's support for remaining in the EU is "nothing but shameful", Mr Cairns added.

A majority of Welsh voters backed leaving the EU at the 2016 referendum.

The package of funding for the Mid Wales Growth Deal, which is hoped will attract £200m and generate 4,000 jobs, will need business investment as well as cash from the Welsh Government.

The UK government said it meant the amount of cash committed by the UK government to economic growth deals in Wales had risen to £790m.

Joint chairs of the Growing Mid Wales Partnership, councillors Ellen ap Gwynn and Rosemarie Harries, welcomed the funding.

They said the plans "will drive future economic growth through investment in skills, innovation, connectivity and more productive jobs supporting prosperous and bilingual communities".

A spokesperson for Economy Minister Ken Skates said: "Whilst we welcome any new investment, this funding in no way offsets the disastrous Tory cuts mid Wales has had to endure during this last decade of austerity.

"The figure of £55m will likely be viewed as derisory by the people of mid Wales when set against recent Welsh Government investment in mid Wales, such as the £95m Newtown bypass, which attracted no UK government funding whatsoever."

Plaid Cymru Ceredigion MP Ben Lake said £55m was "far from what was expected and needed", while Brecon and Radnorshire Lib Dem MP Jane Dodds called it "insulting".

In an interview with BBC Wales Mr Cairns said the Welsh independence movement, which has become more prominent following a series of marches during 2019, was "trying to offer something that under scrutiny will not stand up".

He criticised the logic of those who believe Wales could be a member of the European Union if it was independent.

Mr Cairns argued Wales would not be admitted to the EU if it was independent.

"Other nations around Europe have said that about Scotland. The same will be true for Wales," he said.

"So, the logic of where they are going is Wales will be an independent nation by itself that clearly could sustain itself but on a much, much lower standard of living than what we get now."