News

Rhun prepares for clash with Starmer as Plaid eyes power in Cardiff Bay

Published

4 weeks ago

May 10, 2026

PLAID CYMRU leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has signalled he is ready for confrontation with Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the biggest political earthquake in Welsh devolution history.

Following Plaid’s dramatic Senedd election victory, which saw the party emerge as the largest force in the Welsh Parliament for the first time, ap Iorwerth has made it clear he intends to push aggressively for more powers and funding for Wales — including reopening rows over HS2 funding, policing, justice, and control of natural resources.

Speaking during a series of high-profile interviews on Sunday, the likely next First Minister said the UK Labour government now faced a choice: work with Wales or risk being seen as punishing Welsh voters for rejecting Labour dominance.

The comments are likely to raise tensions between Cardiff Bay and Westminster just days after Welsh Labour suffered a historic collapse at the polls.

Plaid plans minority government

Plaid Cymru won 43 seats in the expanded 96-member Senedd, leaving the party short of an outright majority but comfortably ahead of rivals.

With support expected from the two Green MSs, and the Liberal Democrats indicating they will abstain rather than oppose him, ap Iorwerth now appears on course to become Wales’ next First Minister as early as Tuesday.

The result marks the end of more than a century of Labour electoral dominance in Wales and the first time Labour has failed to emerge as the largest party since devolution began in 1999.

Ap Iorwerth has insisted he wants Plaid to govern alone rather than form a coalition, although he acknowledged cross-party cooperation would be necessary.

Fresh pressure over HS2 and funding

One of the clearest signals from the Plaid leader was his intention to revive demands over the HS2 rail project.

Welsh politicians have long argued Wales was unfairly denied billions of pounds in consequential funding after HS2 was classified as an England-and-Wales project despite no track entering Wales.

Ap Iorwerth suggested a future “Wales Bill” at Westminster could include demands on fairer funding, policing and criminal justice powers, and greater Welsh control over natural resources.

The remarks are likely to concern Labour strategists in London already facing growing pressure after heavy losses in Wales.

Labour admits “catastrophic defeat”

Interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates described the election result as a “catastrophic defeat” and confirmed the party would carry out what he called a “forensic” review into what went wrong.

Skates is also expected to enter the race to become permanent Welsh Labour leader following the shock loss of former First Minister Eluned Morgan, who lost her own seat during the election.

Meanwhile, Reform UK, which surged to 34 seats, said it intended to become an aggressive opposition force inside the Senedd.

Tensions with Reform

Ap Iorwerth also appeared to take a swipe at Reform leader Dan Thomas after claiming he had been unable to arrange a courtesy call following the election.

Reform denied the allegation, insisting contact details had been provided and that Plaid had been told to communicate through Thomas’s staff.

Despite the row, Reform MS Llŷr Powell suggested the party would not simply oppose everything brought forward by Plaid, saying Reform would judge proposals individually and focus heavily on government spending and scrutiny.

“A new era” for Wales

The weekend celebrations outside the Senedd increasingly resembled the atmosphere of a government-in-waiting, with Plaid supporters openly speaking of a “new era” in Welsh politics.

For the first time since the Senedd was created, Wales now faces the prospect of a nationalist-led government prepared to challenge Westminster far more openly than previous Labour administrations.

Whether that leads to meaningful constitutional change, or confrontation with London, could define the next chapter of Welsh politics.

Finance

1.5 million taken to court over council tax debt, GMB investigation finds

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

AT LEAST 1.5 million people were taken to court over unpaid council tax last year, according to a new investigation by the GMB union.

The union said the figures showed a council tax system “completely broken”, with cash-strapped local authorities forced to pursue residents through the courts to recover unpaid bills.

The findings, released ahead of GMB’s annual congress in Blackpool on Tuesday (Jun 9), were based on Freedom of Information requests sent to all council tax-collecting local authorities in Britain.

Almost 200 councils replied within the statutory deadline.

The responses showed that 1,430,726 people were summoned to court in the financial year 2024/25. However, because many councils did not respond, GMB said the true figure was likely to be far higher.

The investigation also found that at least 4,593,838 council tax accounts were in arrears, while debt management proceedings had been launched against 3,231,480 accounts.

In total, at least £4.6bn is owed to councils in unpaid council tax.

In Wales, the figures showed £110,884,885 was owed, with 31,452 accounts in arrears, 14,792 facing debt management proceedings, and 34,437 people taken to court during 2024/25.

Broken system

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “These horrifying figures show our council tax system is completely broken.

“Not only is the banding system woefully out of date, but forcing cash-strapped councils to pursue one and a half million people through the courts just to make ends meet can’t be the right way to do business.

“Austerity left deep scars on all our public services, which will last a generation or more.

“Meanwhile the lack of authority funding often means low pay for the people we rely on to look after our loved ones, to take our rubbish, to keep our towns and cities running.

“To fix all this, we need more guaranteed central government funding, progress on council tax reform so the richest pay their share, and changes to business rates so that authorities get more to regenerate our high streets.”

The highest regional total was recorded in Scotland, where £989m was owed and 245,294 people were taken to court.

London councils reported £625m owed, with 258,732 court summonses issued, while the West Midlands recorded 239,116 court cases and £490m in unpaid council tax.

News

Electricity network upgrades across Pembrokeshire to support homes, businesses and future demand

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

NATIONAL Grid Electricity Distribution runs the local electricity network in Pembrokeshire and is strengthening it to support how people live and work now and in the future.

Demand for electricity in Pembrokeshire is increasing rapidly, particularly as more people switch to electric cars and heat pumps, and more clean, home-grown generation comes online.

Henry Tufnell MP met with engineers in Milford Haven to see how these upgrades are increasing capacity for local communities.

Henry Tufnell MP said: “It was great to visit the site in Milford Haven and see first-hand the work being carried out to strengthen the local electricity network.

“Investment like this is important for supporting communities and businesses across Pembrokeshire and making sure the area is ready for future growth and cleaner energy.”

Steffan Jones, Operations Manager of West Wales Major Projects at National Grid Electricity Distribution, said: “Demand is growing as people use more power in their everyday lives at home and at work.

“We are upgrading our network across Pembrokeshire to support local communities, enable new connections and power future growth.”

The upgrades will help provide more capacity for local communities, making it easier to connect new homes, support businesses and enable technologies such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar energy.

Health

Wales becomes first UK nation to offer online gambling harm support

Published

2 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES has become the first UK country to offer nationwide access to a new online NHS programme for people affected by gambling harms.

The free course, Space from Gambling Harms, is available through the SilverCloud platform and can be accessed at any time on a phone, tablet or computer without the need to see a GP.

It forms part of the new All-Wales Gambling Treatment Service, which launched in April alongside a 24-hour helpline.

The 12-week programme is based on cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational enhancement therapy, helping users reflect on their gambling habits, build confidence, and develop skills to regain control.

Jodie Morgan, Clinical Operational Manager at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which manages the gambling service and helpline for NHS Wales, said: “Improving access to support is a key part of the All-Wales Gambling Treatment Service.

“Space from Gambling Harms offers people another way to access confidential, evidence-based support at a time that suits them, and we will be supporting patients across Wales to access the programme alongside our wider treatment offer.”

The course is available to anyone in Wales aged 18 or over via self-referral. Users are advised to spend around 20 minutes a day, three times a week, working through the programme.

Anyone who self-refers is assigned an NHS-trained supporter who can provide guidance, advice and encouragement.

Fionnuala Clayton, project manager for NHS Wales’ online CBT service, said: “Through SilverCloud, we want to remove as many barriers to support as possible and provide people with tools they can use in a way that fits around their lives.

“This programme gives people the opportunity to reflect on their habits, gain the skills and confidence to control their gambling, and get their lives back on track.”

The programme is one of 28 mental health and wellbeing courses available through SilverCloud, which is managed by Powys Teaching Health Board.

Other SilverCloud programmes for mild-to-moderate mental health issues, including anxiety, stress, depression and poor sleep, are available to anyone in Wales aged 16 or over.

In Wales, research suggests tens of thousands of people are affected by gambling harms each year.

The new helpline offers information, advice and support to anyone affected by gambling, including family members and others impacted. Where needed, callers can be referred on to specialist treatment services.

Anyone affected by gambling harms can call the 24/7 helpline on 0808 281 9265.

Professionals and individuals can also refer to the Gambling Treatment Service by calling 03000 859464 or emailing [email protected].

Self-referrals to SilverCloud’s Space from Gambling Harms programme can be made at nhswales.silvercloudhealth.com/signup/.