Pembrokeshire politician highlights Welsh Government’s lavish ‘lobster kebabs’ spending in the US

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire politician Sam Kurtz has highlighted in the Senedd some pretty flamboyant spending from the Labour Welsh Government in the US this year, which included lavish ‘lobster kebabs’ on the menu for one event in New York!
Posting on his social media accounts, the Conservative Senedd Member MrKurtz stated: “Lobster kebabs anyone? That’s how the Welsh Government are spending taxpayers money in the US, with what looks like very little return!” he stated, before quoting Thatcher - ‘The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.’
Mr Kurtz raised the matter at this week’s ‘questions to the First Minister’ at the Welsh Senedd in Cardiff, where he asked: “Can I call for a statement from the First Minister, following the pretty remarkable news of the Welsh Government's expenditure in America?
“Some of the eye-watering costs in the US include a food bill for Zou Zou's, an exclusive New York restaurant, which totalled nearly £16,000 for a St David's Day event. And what was on the menu?
“Salads at $29, lobster kebab at $51, and French fries for $12—far from a celebration of Welsh food and culture on St David's Day.
“Over £2,300 was also spent in a New York Irish bar called Donnelly's, when there is quite literally a Welsh bar in New York, operated and owned by Welsh people.
“Could the First Minister outline what checks and balances are there on their spending, what, if any, cost-benefit analysis has been done, and how is this spending helping drive inward investment into Wales or, indeed, strengthening the Welsh diaspora network if key overseas businesses and networks of Welsh descent aren't even involved?” he added.
In the First Minister’s absence, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip Jane Hutt MS, responded that she felt it would be ‘really important’ to get the feedback.
“I’m sure the First Minister can provide it, about the impact of those events that were held in New York. You can't underestimate that across the whole world on St David's Day events take place, and I think some of us have been,” she stated.
“I went to one in Dublin last year, where businesses come and celebrate St David's Day. Businesses who are doing business in Wales come to these events, and they are across the world.
“These events, praise the investment that they are making in Wales, and they want to celebrate it. But can I just say that it's important.
“Instead of digging around, as you seem to, and your staff team seem to want to do, in collaboration with The Daily Telegraph an awful lot of the time!
“I think we really do need to recognise it, and perhaps I will ask the First Minister to do a statement on St David's Day and the outcome from the events that were held earlier on this year,” she added.

©Pic: Pixabay