A STORM has erupted in Porthmadog – with the Welsh Government accused of suggesting that people in north Wales are “thick” and that the area cannot retain highly skilled employees.

Gwynedd councillor Nia Jeffreys and Porthmadog Town Council chair Simon Brooks have both voiced their displeasure at the tone of a letter sent out by the Cabinet secretary for finance, Mark Drakeford.

Within the letter, sent to the town council recently, Mr Drakeford appears to suggest that new tax jobs will not be located in Porthmadog as north Wales is unable to “attract, develop, retain and share” employees with specialist skills.

The decision to locate approximately 20 highly-paid, Welsh-medium jobs to south Wales has been met with consternation across the community.

Mark Drakeford’s letter, translated from Welsh, reads: “[The Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA)] will be a relatively small organisation, and staff will need to possess a high level of personnel specialist skills, both in the field of taxes, digital services, as well as legal and analytical skills.

“Attracting, developing, retaining and sharing the expertise is a key priority and is essential to the success of the organisation.”

Cllr Brooks was aghast at the Cabinet secretary’s remarks and felt the whole decision to move financial services was a folly.

“People in north Wales are just as talented as anyone else,” he said. “We’re not thick, you know. I hope that nobody in Cardiff is suggesting this.

“It would be a very sorry state of affairs if this was the case.

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online now