Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Gerald Jones has slammed the Tories for “Six wasted years” in charge of the UK economy.

The comments come in light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement where the Government downgraded the UK’s growth figures meaning that the books will not be balanced until the next parliament in 2021.

The figures also forecasted that UK debt will be at the same level it was in 2010, levels criticised by the Chancellor and his predecessor.

Gerald said:

“It does seem extremely hypocritical that the Chancellor and his team spent the last six years attacking Labour over borrowing and have suddenly changed their tune.

“Now we know it was all for nothing, six wasted years. They’ve failed to hit every major target they’ve set, they’ve broken all of the chancellors previous rules and the debt in the next few years will match the same level that it did in 2010.

“We’ve wasted six years under their watch, six years of Tory austerity that have decimated public services in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney and across the country. In truth we can see now that it was just cover for the nasty party to hit the poorest in society as they always do.”