The leader of Swansea Council said he said doesn't have any confidence that Conservative leader hopefuls Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak would "do anything good for Wales". Cllr Rob Stewart made the comment in a discussion about Swansea potentially being in the mix for freeport status.
Cllr Lyndon Jones, leader of Swansea Conservatives, said the council should be sending out a positive message on this subject. The UK and Welsh Governments are inviting applications for Wales' first freeport, which should be operational by next summer. The freeport will be a special zone promoting high-quality jobs and regeneration, with simplified customs procedures, relief on customs duties, tax benefits, and development flexibility.
Cllr Jones said it was really important that MPs and Senedd members in Swansea and Gower supported a bid for the city to gain freeport status, as he said Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie was doing in her Anglesey constituency. Cllr Jones said he understood that Wales would have two freeports and that "it is so important" that Swansea was one of them.
