WELSH First Minister Mark Drakeford has been urged to work with other party leaders to secure additional funding for firms hit by the Welsh Government’s changes to pandemic related support.

The Welsh Conservatives say businesses were led to believe there would be additional support provided for firms and were surprised by the decision to cut off business support in April.

Welsh Conservative leader, Andrew RT Davies said there is widespread dismay at the decision across all political groups and has called on the First Minister to work with political leaders to ensure additional support is made available to businesses in April.

Mr Davies said: “There has been understandable dismay and anger at the decision by Labour ministers to move the goalposts and cut off business support in April.

“As leaders we meet on a regular basis to discuss the pandemic, and I believe this issue should be tackled in the same vein, with an arrangement found to provide the necessary support for firms to help them survive and restart at the end of April.

“I accept that the civil service and government will be mindful of purdah, but people’s livelihoods in Wales are far more important than political egos or Senedd elections.

“On this vital issue, let’s work together and get this done so we can save Welsh jobs and help firms bounce back after coronavirus.”