by Roger McKenzie

MARK DRAKEFORD delivered a scathing attack on the Tory government today by condemning the paralysis in decision-making at Westminster caused by the partygate scandal.

The First Minister of Wales labelled Prime Minister Boris Johnson as permanently “damaged” by the events of the boozy party culture of Downing Street and continuing speculation over his future.

Tory MPs had spent all of their time “fighting each other like ferrets in a sack this week” he said.

Mr Drakeford was blunt about the future prospects for the Prime Minister, stating: “Even if he were to survive he will just limp on because he’s never going to escape the damage that this week has done to his reputation.”

Mr Drakeford said that as the PM concentrated on saving his career, his government was paralysed by indecision.

He claimed decisions in Westminster were being made with the aim of attempting “to shore up the Prime Minister to protect him from the attacks that his own side are making on him.”

Mr Drakeford sharply contrasted the science-led approach of the Wales government and Tory ministers on Covid-19 over the last week.

He said that the approach of Westminster was to “find a different headline from the one that has dominated the news.”

Mr Drakeford explained that the Wales government was able to announce a relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions as the latest public health data showed that Wales appears to have passed the peak of the omicron variant.

Overall coronavirus cases are back to levels last seen in the autumn of last year.

Mr Johnson announced this week that the Westminster government was ending mandatory mask wearing and working from home restrictions in England.

In Wales, the eventual move to level zero would mean that crowds would be able to return to outdoor sporting events and limits will be removed from taking part in outdoor activities.

Regulations in Wales around social gatherings are also being removed from outdoor hospitality and nightclubs will reopen.

Covid-19 passes will still be required for entry to larger outdoor events.

Dominic MacAskill, of Unison Cymru/Wales, said that the union welcomed the more cautious approach of the Wales government “in comparison to the chaos in Westminster.”

Mr MacAskill added: “What we need now is for the efforts of all our public service workers to be recognised with fair pay and working conditions.”