‘The First Minister is turning into a tin-pot dictator’: North Wales MS criticises Mark Drakeford over supermarket non-essential goods ban

Wales’ First Minister has been compared to a “tin-pot” dictator after it was announced that supermarkets will be banned from selling non-essential items during the two week firebreak lockdown.

As part of the restrictions, which start at 6pm this evening, all non-essential shops, leisure and hospitality will be required to close until Monday 9 November.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) raised concerns the move would create an unfair advantage if supermarkets are able to continue selling non-essential items.

As a result, big stores will not be able to sell items like clothes under measures Mark Drakeford said were aimed at levelling the playing field for smaller shops.

However, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar MS has criticised the move, calling for urgent clarity from the government.

The Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Minister for Covid Recovery said: “With just hours to go until the Wales-wide lockdown begins, confusion is rife the length and breadth of Wales.

“Supermarkets, convenience stores and other shops have no idea which goods the Welsh Labour-led Government regards as non-essential so that they can restrict them from sale.

“The First Minister is turning into a tin-pot dictator; he had an opportunity to clear this matter up at his press conference today but has failed to do so.

“Making last minute diktats is irresponsible; Ministers must issue guidance immediately so that businesses and the public know where they stand.

“Ministers also need to set out their plans for when this lockdown ends.”

Non-essential items being covered up in supermarkets in Wales. Has it really come to this? pic.twitter.com/YwtIUjgc8P

— Grant Tucker (@GrantTucker) October 23, 2020

The FSB said it would be an “unacceptable advantage” for supermarkets to sell non-essential goods at a time when small businesses on the high street are forced to close, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

This afternoon’s Welsh Government press briefing saw the First Minister face a number of questions over the decision.

However Mr Drakeford stated it was a “simple matter of fair play.”

He said: “We are requiring many hundreds of small businesses to close on the high street right across Wales.

“We cannot do that and then allow supermarkets to sell goods that those people are unable to sell.

“We are looking to minimise the amount of time that people spend out of their homes during this two week period.

“This is not a period to be browsing around supermarkets looking for non essential goods.”

North.Wales asked Mr Drakeford whether any action would be taken for internet retailers to limit their offer.

We also questioned whether alcohol sales would be stopped in supermarkets to ensure fair play for hospitality businesses.

He said: “Alcohol sales in supermarkets are already restricted and we’ve introduced rules there that apply in Wales that don’t apply anywhere else.

“The supermarket sector is a very mature, a very responsible sector, it will want to do the right thing.

“It’s demonstrated that in the way that it implements our alcohol rules here in Wales, we have every confidence that it will do the right thing in relation to the sale of non essential goods.

“The Welsh Government doesn’t have the powers to do things about internet sales. That is a UK wide responsibility that only the UK Government can discharge.”

He continued “I’ve had many conversations with the retail consortium here in Wales before the pandemic about the unfairness of the system in which internet businesses are treated in one way and high street businesses are treated in another way.

“Previously we made the case to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to change the rules for online businesses so that they contribute their fair share to the national effort in terms of taxation, in terms of the way they trade alongside other businesses, but those are not decisions that lie in the hands of the Welsh Government.”