The Welsh Conservatives have claimed that the Welsh Government wasted millions when it purchased Cardiff Airport in 2013.
Andrew RT Davies claimed Labour showed a “stunning failure to safeguard taxpayers’ money” when it paid £52m for the airport following a report by the Wales Audit Office published today.
Mr Davies claims though are based on “selective and misleading” figures according to the Welsh Government.
The report shows that the Welsh Government had carried out the correct due diligence and the amount paid was actually at the lower end of the range of valuations for the Airport.
Whilst turning around the airport from years of decline has proved challenging for the Welsh Government, 2015 saw a rise of 13% in passengers numbers along with a host of new routes and destinations.
There is no doubt that with Assembly Elections around the corner Andrew RT Davies is taking every opportunity to fire shots at Welsh Labour however whilst the they may have injected tax payers money into the airport it has clearly been done with due diligence and the rewards are starting to pay off leaving his arguments a little weak.
It is clear that Welsh Conservatives would not have stepped in to save Cardiff Airport from decline potentially leaving Wales without an international airport. A situation far worse to the Welsh economy than a “possible” small overspend.
