There was a heated exchange over the law in what was one of the the last sitting plenary session before the Senedd elections in May
A senior Welsh Government figure has defended the Welsh Government’s 20mph law in Wales. Julie James told Conservative Tom Giffard that by opposing the law, his party was putting lives at risk.
She told him: “The idea you want to drive faster at the risk of a child’s life should be something you should be ashamed of”. In a heated exchanged, on the second to last sitting of plenary ahead of the Senedd being dissolved for the election campaigns to begin in earnest ahead of the Welsh election on May 7, the pair clashed over the policy.
Labour introduced the policy which came into force in September 2023.
Deeply unpopular, the party has watered it down since, but it remains the default speed limit. The Conservatives have said they will “reverse Labour’s unnecessary 20mph speed limits” in their manifesto. Labour is yet to publish its manifesto.
Having been criticised for the policy by Mr Giffard, Julie James, the current counsel general but who was climate change minister when the policy was introduced, told him the policy had saved lives.
“The 20mph shibboleth a policy that has cleaned up our air, saved the lives of children, stopped countless families from suffering the misery of extreme injury and death, has lowered the insurance costs of most people across Wales,” she said. “And saved the NHS a lot of money by any measure, is one you should be embracing.
“Let me tell you this, because the Tories don’t know anything about social justice, 20mph is a real social justice issue. It makes streets safer for women and children, it makes them safer to walk on without you suffering poor air, makes people safer in our cities and towns
“The idea you want to drive faster at the risk of a child’s life should be something you should be ashamed of”.
The final list of parties standing in the election on May 7 will be published in full on April 10.
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