The first minister pushed back against criticism of the Welsh Government's decision to stop most road projects
Mark Drakeford has defended the Welsh Government's decision to scrap most major road projects, saying building roads "does not work." The Welsh Government announced in February it was scrapping most road schemes in Wales after a review.
At the time ministers said future road building needed to focus on on minimising carbon emissions and not increasing road capacity, with its decision impacting around 50 projects including controversial plans to expand the A55 in Flintshire, known as the Red Route, and improvements to the M4.
The decision was criticised by some who said many people would still need to rely on their cars in Wales as well as citing issues with public transport. Labour Senedd members including the first minister later voted for a motion criticising the Welsh Government's own Roads Review that recommended the mass cancellation.
Mr Drakeford was asked about the scrapped road projects on Thursday at a press conference with political leaders including Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, Consul General of Ireland Denise McQuade and Welsh Government Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales Lesley Griffiths.
The first minister said the Welsh Government was "absolutely serious about it [climate change]" and that "you cannot simply go on acting as though the climate emergency does not affect the car, because it does. Of all the areas in which we have been able to reduce carbon emissions, transport is the most stubborn one to bring down," he said.
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