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David DeansWales political reporter
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Eluned Morgan says her government can't be expected "to step in and do the work that the public should be doing"
The public need to stop watching Netflix, "get out of their homes" and go for a drink in pubs in order to save struggling businesses, Wales's first minister says.
Eluned Morgan spoke in the Senedd after her government announced a one-year business rate discount of 15% for pubs, restaurants, cafes and live music venues.
She came under fire in Wales's parliament over her government's business rate strategy for bars, when she replied that the state could not be expected to "step in" and do the work of people not using hospitality businesses.
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Morgan of being "completely out of touch" and "blaming others instead of taking responsibility".
The Welsh government's business rate regime came in for criticism on Tuesday from ap Iorwerth, who told the Senedd the "hospitality sector is facing an existential crisis" and the system needed "urgent and radical change".
Morgan replied: "If people want to see those businesses succeed, they need to use them.
"They need to stop buying things online. They need to get out of their homes and stop watching Netflix.
"They need to stop buying that bottle of wine at home and go out to the pub. That is the reality of what's happening here.
"You can't expect the state to step in and do the work that the public should be doing."
Later, ap Iorwerth said: "This is a first minister that is completely out of touch - she has form for blaming others instead of taking responsibility for the government's own failures."
The UK government's English scheme will see pubs get a 15% discount from April, and their business rates frozen for a further two years.
Asked why the its scheme was for a single year, the Welsh government said decisions for 2027/28 and beyond will be for the next Senedd.
Wales goes to the polls in just three months time.
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said ministers know hospitality and music venues are "facing real pressures, from rising costs to changing consumer habits" and the cut would help 4,400 businesses.
It comes after complaints that rising property valuations have left some Welsh companies facing sharp increases in their bills.
The UK government's decision to cut rates in England also followed a backlash against its November budget which left many facing major increases, and led to more than a thousand pubs banning Labour MPs from their premises.
Business rates in Wales are controlled by the Welsh government and collected by local councils.
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Wales's business rates cut is two years shorter than a similar scheme in England for pubs and live music venues
The comments by Morgan followed a clash with Welsh Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar, where he accused her of not giving a "straight answer" over whether Labour would rule out income tax rises after the next Senedd election.
When asked, the first minister said it will be made clear in her manifesto.
"Your plan is simply to follow Plaid Cymru's lead, to reach your hands deeper into the pockets of those hard-working people," he said.
Morgan said: "You want to cut the basic rates of income tax? Then you have to tell people that they will have to wait longer for those waiting lists to come down."
In February, BBC Wales is holding a live debate in Aberystwyth with a panel of politicians ahead of the Senedd election. Click below to apply to be in the audience.
