Latest news with #JoStevens'
Business News Wales
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business News Wales
Welsh Secretary Heads to US and Canada to Boost Trade and Investment
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens is travelling to the United States and Canada on a mission to boost trade and investment in Wales. The two countries are among the most significant markets for Welsh exports, with goods and services worth over £2 billion destined for the US and Canada each year. Trade and investment between Wales and North America supports over 50,000 Welsh jobs. The visit follows the signing of the UK's economic prosperity deal with the US in May. Car manufacturer Aston Martin, which has a base in St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan employing at least 600 people, resumed exports to the United States following the successful trade deal. The Welsh Secretary will visit the new Aston Martin showroom in New York City and meet executives. Jo Stevens' visit to North America comes after the UK Government's publication of its Industrial Strategy and aims to highlight Wales as a key destination for inward investment into the UK. During the visit the Welsh Secretary will raise awareness of this December's Investment Summit in Wales, encouraging North American business leaders and investors to participate in the event. Driving investment into Wales is the Welsh Secretary's primary goal, with high profile business facing events and roundtable meetings with industry leaders and investors in Toronto and New York. Her programme includes: Hosting a reception for business at Aston Martin's new showroom in New York City Meeting key Canadian businesses with an interest in Wales – including from manufacturing and other sectors – at a roundtable meeting in Toronto. A business breakfast with investors in sport real estate in the UK in New York. Speaking ahead of the visit, Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 'There are strong and important economic and cultural ties between Wales and North America and it is fantastic to be able to promote these and help strengthen them further. 'The UK Government has made economic growth our key mission and our new trade deal with the United States delivers fantastic benefits for our key businesses like Aston Martin and for working people across Wales. 'I want to build on this progress and while I am in the USA and Canada I will be discussing further opportunities for investment in Wales with companies like Aston Martin. 'My message is very clear – Wales is open for business.' Deputy Trade Commissioner for North America Alan Gogbashian said: 'From sports economy firms to the automotive industry, Wales plays a key role in the UK economy, and has strong trade and investment ties with Canada and the United States. 'It's fantastic to host the Secretary of State for Wales in New York and Toronto this week to engage with current transatlantic businesses including Aston Martin, and to connect with potential investors ahead of the Investment Summit in Wales later this year.' The Welsh Secretary's itinerary also includes a reception in Toronto with business and cultural groups with interests in Wales and meetings with individual investors in Wales like Vale Mining.
South Wales Argus
20-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Labour Governments at London and Cardiff are at odds
Nothing is worse than when families continue to bicker and lie to each other. This time Wales' public services will not face cuts despite a shortfall in covering a rise in employers' National Insurance contributions, according to Labour's Welsh secretary. Jo Stevens' comments appear to contradict the Welsh Government's finance secretary, Mark Drakeford, who previously warned he was facing a £36m black hole. Who can the people of Wales believe, with one blaming the other to save his job and the other defending Starmer? Many thanks Andrew Nutt, Bargoed
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tories want apology over Jo Stevens Budget tweet
The Welsh secretary should apologise for "politicising" civil servants in a post about the UK government's Budget on the Wales Office's X account, say the Conservatives. They complained to the cabinet secretary – the top civil servant at Westminster – after Jo Stevens' post said the Budget "delivered for Wales for the first time in a generation". The chief executive of the UK Government Communication Service agreed the post "could have been phrased better" and said he had spoken to the Wales Office. The Wales Office said the matter was discussed with its director to "ensure continued compliance with guidelines". Tories demand apology over Welsh secretary video Labour demand formal probe over Welsh Tory video Official resources should not be used for party political purposes, under the Civil Service Code. In her letter to the cabinet secretary, Conservative shadow secretary of state for Wales Mims Davies said: "I am sure you will agree we simply cannot have taxpayer-funded resources being misappropriated on these types of messages and your civil servants being actively political inside departments, and perhaps under pressure to message this way." She went on to ask for what was being done to investigate the secretary of state and her officials. In reply, Simon Baugh, chief executive of the Government Communication Service said: "In this particular case, while the text of the post echoed a short section of a HM Treasury press release, I acknowledge that it could have been better phrased, and I have discussed the matter with the Wales Office." In a statement following the exchange of letters Davies said: "We now need the secretary of state for Wales to step up and apologise for this conduct in politicising our impartial civil servants." This is not the first time that Conservatives have clashed with Jo Stevens over the use of social media. In October last year Davies's predecessor, Byron Davies, complained about a different social media post on the Wales Office account, which he said broke civil service code, and brought the government department into disrepute. The Wales Office said it had done "nothing improper in expressing regret about the previous administration". Earlier in the year, Stevens called for a formal investigation into the then Welsh Secretary David TC Davies and accused him of breaching rules of behaviour for ministers. She said he had recorded a video attacking plans to increase the size of the Senedd in his government office. The ministerial code says they should not generally be used for party or constituency activities. At the time a UK government source said that the video was recorded inside for security reasons. A Wales Office spokesperson said the government department "follows guidance set out by the Government Communication Service and mandatory training is undertaken on the use of social media on official government channels". "The post in question highlighted how the UK government is investing in Wales. "This matter has been discussed with the Wales Office director to ensure continued compliance with guidelines."
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Conservatives want apology for Jo Stevens Budget tweet
The Welsh secretary should apologise for "politicising" civil servants in a post about the UK government's Budget on the Wales Office's X account, say the complained to the cabinet secretary – the top civil servant at Westminster – after Jo Stevens' post said the Budget "delivered for Wales for the first time in a generation".The chief executive of the UK Government Communication Service agreed the post "could have been phrased better" and said he had spoken to the Wales Office. The Wales Office said the matter was discussed with its director to "ensure continued compliance with guidelines". Official resources should not be used for party political purposes, under the Civil Service her letter to the cabinet secretary, Conservative shadow secretary of state for Wales Mims Davies said:"I am sure you will agree we simply cannot have taxpayer-funded resources being misappropriated on these types of messages and your civil servants being actively political inside departments, and perhaps under pressure to message this way."She went on to ask for what was being done to investigate the secretary of state and her reply, Simon Baugh, chief executive of the Government Communication Service said: "In this particular case, while the text of the post echoed a short section of a HM Treasury press release, I acknowledge that it could have been better phrased, and I have discussed the matter with the Wales Office."In a statement following the exchange of letters Davies said: "We now need the secretary of state for Wales to step up and apologise for this conduct in politicising our impartial civil servants." This is not the first time that Conservatives have clashed with Jo Stevens over the use of social October last year Davies's predecessor, Byron Davies, complained about a different social media post on the Wales Office account, which he said broke civil service code, and brought the government department into Wales Office said it had done "nothing improper in expressing regret about the previous administration".Earlier in the year, Stevens called for a formal investigation into the then Welsh Secretary David TC Davies and accused him of breaching rules of behaviour for said he had recorded a video attacking plans to increase the size of the Senedd in his government ministerial code says they should not generally be used for party or constituency the time a UK government source said that the video was recorded inside for security reasons.A Wales Office spokesperson said the government department "follows guidance set out by the Government Communication Service and mandatory training is undertaken on the use of social media on official government channels"."The post in question highlighted how the UK government is investing in Wales. "This matter has been discussed with the Wales Office director to ensure continued compliance with guidelines."
