Welsh Conservative Senedd Member Andrew RT Davies has slammed the UK Labour Government, after a minister confirmed it backs Senedd ministers’ controversial Nation of Sanctuary asylum seeker plan.

This week, Conservative MP Rebecca Smith raised the plan in the House of Commons, pointing out immigration and asylum are not devolved to the Senedd.

She said public services in Wales have fallen below acceptable standards because Senedd ministers have prioritised the plan, which she said, “is believed to support services for some illegal immigrants”.

She asked Wales Office minister Anna McMorrin MP if she agreed “it is high time her colleagues scrapped this wasteful, non-devolved policy and instead focused their time on lowering NHS waiting times and improving standards.”

McMorrin refused, making the argument that the scheme has supported Ukrainians, a point Mr Davies described as “discredited”.

Mr Davies commented: “Keir Starmer’s government claims to support border control, but that position cannot be reconciled with its support for Plaid and Labour Senedd members’ plan to make Wales a Nation of Sanctuary for asylum seekers.

“Immigration and asylum are not devolved, yet Senedd ministers spend energy and resources on this policy that acts as a pull factor, encouraging more people to come to Britain illegally.

“The argument that the Nation of Sanctuary supports Ukrainians is discredited and does not stand up to scrutiny – other parts of Britain have warmly welcomed people from Ukraine without signing up to this ideological scheme.”