LOCAL Assembly Members Paul Davies and Nick Bourne have backed Pembrokeshire College lecturers and students protesting against Assembly Government cuts to further education budgets.
Along with other Welsh Conservatives Mr Davies, Shadow Education Minister and Preseli Pembrokeshire AM, and Mr Bourne, Opposition leader and Mid and West Wales AM, joined the protest outside the National Assembly in Cardiff today.
Commenting Paul Davies AM said:
"Reckless budget cuts such as these could have seriously damaging implications for students and lecturers across Pembrokeshire.
"As the economic climate worsens it is madness for the Labour-Plaid Cymru Assembly Government to cut funding for the sector.
"Colleges need this money to help re-train the thousands of workers made redundant in recent months and to develop the skilled workforce of the future.
"As the Shadow Education Minister and the local Assembly Member I will continue to support students and lecturers in Pembrokeshire in their campaign for a fair funding deal from the Assembly Government in Cardiff."
Nick Bourne AM said:
"The cuts imposed by Labour and Plaid Cymru undermine efforts to develop a skilled workforce, they cost jobs, and they prevent people from reaching their full potential.
"Welsh Conservatives opposed these cuts and voted against them in the Assembly.
"We will continue to support students, lecturers and colleges in their campaign against cuts imposed on them by Labour and Plaid Cymru.
"I am astonished Labour and Plaid Cymru Assembly Members had the gall to join this protest in Cardiff.
"After all they supported the budget proposed by their government which has led to these cuts."