THE ROW over Peter Mandelson has escalated after the Welsh Government cleared its own dealings with the Labour grandee — as UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “lying” about him.

First Minister Eluned Morgan ordered a review into communications between Welsh Government officials and Mandelson following pressure from Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth.

The investigation examined all correspondence — as well as material from documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein — and concluded there was “nothing which represented a risk to the conduct of Welsh Government business.”

But the findings come as Mandelson is once again at the centre of a growing political storm in Westminster.

Westminster clash

Speaking on LBC, Badenoch claimed Starmer had misled Parliament over Mandelson, saying: “This is a man who tells lies at PMQs… just like he did with Peter Mandelson when he said, ‘I didn’t know the full extent of his relationship’, and the papers… showed the opposite.”

While such language would be ruled out of order in the Commons, the accusation marks a significant escalation in political rhetoric around the issue.

Labour has not yet responded to the claims.

Questions remain

In Wales, ministers insist the matter has been fully examined and closed.

However, the Welsh Government has not published the underlying correspondence reviewed, nor detailed the extent of any contact with Mandelson.

That lack of transparency may leave the door open to further scrutiny — particularly given the wider controversy now unfolding at UK level.

Political risk

Although no wrongdoing has been identified, the timing is sensitive.

With the Senedd election approaching, any perceived links — however indirect — to a figure caught up in a Westminster row involving Epstein-related material could prove politically damaging.

Opposition parties are likely to argue that the issue is no longer just about internal processes, but about public trust.

For now, the Welsh Government is standing by its findings.

But as the row intensifies in Westminster, the Mandelson question may not be going away any time soon.

Support package announced as global fuel prices rise amid Middle East tensions

THOUSANDS of households across Wales are set to receive financial support to help cover heating costs, as rising global fuel prices continue to hit those reliant on oil and LPG systems.

Low-income households using heating oil or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) will be eligible for a one-off £200 payment if they are on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The funding forms part of a £3.8 million allocation to Wales from the UK Government, announced on Sunday (Mar 16).

Local authorities will contact eligible households directly and invite applications. Claimants will need to confirm their fuel type and provide bank details, with payments made directly into accounts. The scheme will remain open for six months from launch.

Additional support has also been expanded for those facing severe hardship. The Discretionary Assistance Fund will now offer up to £750 for heating oil, an increase from £500, and applicants will be able to apply twice within a 12-month period. Support is available via local authorities, housing associations, and organisations including Citizens Advice.

A new “Warmth on Prescription” pilot scheme will launch in September 2026 within the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. Delivered by energy charity Severn Wye, the two-winter trial will provide £500 directly to energy suppliers for 100 households suffering from conditions worsened by cold homes, such as COPD, asthma, and cardiovascular disease.

Participants will be referred through healthcare services rather than applying individually. The pilot aims to assess whether warmer homes can improve health outcomes and reduce pressure on NHS services.

The Welsh Government says the measures build on existing schemes, including the Warm Homes Nest programme and the Optimised Retrofit Programme, which together provide more than £130 million annually for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation and heating upgrades.

Since 2022, more than 230,000 people in Wales have also received emergency energy support through the Fuel Bank Foundation.

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said the package was aimed at those most in need.

She said: “The cost of living continues to put pressure on many households across Wales, and the conflict in the Middle East is driving up prices, adding to the anxiety many people already feel about paying their bills and heating their homes.

“Supporting people through these pressures is a priority for us and we are doing all we can for those who need it most. Today’s announcements will provide immediate extra help for those in greatest need.”

She added that support services remain available for those struggling with energy costs or financial pressures.

Advicelink Cymru can be contacted on 0800 702 2020, while the Nest Warm Homes scheme is available on 0808 808 2244.

SAMUEL KURTZ MS has called on the UK Government to take immediate action to ease mounting cost-of-living pressures, warning that families across west Wales are being “squeezed from all sides” by rising fuel and energy costs.

Writing to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member urged ministers to cancel planned fuel duty increases and introduce fairer, more effective support for rural households living off the gas grid.

Energy bills are forecast to rise to nearly £2,000 from July, while persistently high global oil prices continue to drive up costs at the pumps. Diesel prices have surged in recent months, with petrol also climbing—adding further strain to already stretched household budgets.

Kurtz warned that any increase in fuel duty later this year would hit rural communities hardest, where reliance on cars is unavoidable due to limited public transport.

In parts of west Wales, the challenges are even more acute. In Ceredigion, up to three quarters of households are not connected to the gas grid, while in Pembrokeshire around 40% rely on alternative fuels such as heating oil and LPG. Unlike mains gas users, these households are not protected by energy price caps and remain exposed to volatile global markets.

He also criticised existing support measures, describing them as “limited and reactive,” often only available once households reach crisis point. While recent funding announcements for off-grid households have been welcomed, concerns remain over delays and a lack of clarity around how the support will be delivered.

Kurtz pointed to the UK Government’s response during the 2022 energy crisis, which included the Energy Price Guarantee, £400 bill support, and a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment for off-grid homes.

He said: “Households across west Wales are under real pressure, and for many this is not about cutting back—it’s about keeping up.

“Rural families already face higher costs, whether that’s heating their homes or filling up the car. Increasing fuel duty now would only make that worse.

“Off-grid households are being overlooked. They don’t benefit from price caps and are exposed to volatile fuel costs.

“The UK Government acted decisively during the last energy crisis. The same level of urgency is needed again now.

“The Chancellor must act—cancel the planned fuel duty increases and reintroduce the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment to give households the support they need.”

He warned that without swift intervention, rural communities risk being left further behind as cost pressures continue to rise.