CATHOLIC bishops in Wales have called on Members of the Senedd to withhold consent for Westminster’s assisted suicide legislation, ahead of a debate and vote expected next week.

In a joint statement issued on Monday (Jan 19), Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff-Menevia and Bishop Peter Brignall of Wrexham said they were “deeply concerned” about the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.

On Tuesday (Jan 27), Senedd Members are expected to be asked whether Wales should give legislative consent for the bill. This is the process used when UK legislation touches on devolved matters, including areas linked to health and the delivery of public services.

The bishops said that, if enacted, the bill would legalise assisted suicide and represent what they described as a “profound change” in how society responds to people who are terminally ill.

They warned that vulnerable people could be placed at greater risk, arguing that in countries where assisted suicide has been legalised, eligibility criteria have tended to widen over time, the number of deaths has increased, and some people may feel subtle pressure to end their lives, particularly those who are elderly, disabled, or anxious about becoming a burden.

Calling on Wales’ “long and proud tradition of compassion,” the bishops said true compassion did not mean ending a life, but supporting those who suffer, easing pain, and ensuring no one feels abandoned or without worth.

They urged politicians to focus instead on strengthening palliative and end-of-life care, saying every person should be able to live their final days with dignity, comfort and peace.

Supporters of assisted dying argue that the law would give mentally competent adults with a terminal diagnosis greater choice at the end of life, and say that any system introduced should include strict safeguards to prevent coercion or abuse. They also say the debate should include the experiences of patients and families facing the realities of prolonged and distressing deaths.

The bishops’ intervention comes as assisted dying continues to prompt strong views across the UK, with campaigners, faith groups, medical professionals and disability rights advocates raising questions about safeguards, potential unintended consequences, and the resourcing of palliative care.

As the Senedd vote approaches, Archbishop O’Toole and Bishop Brignall have invited people across Wales to “pray and reflect carefully” on the issue.

They are also encouraging those who can to observe a day of fasting on Monday (Jan 26), the eve of the debate, in solidarity with those they believe would be most vulnerable if the bill becomes law, and to urge those supporting it to reconsider.

The bishops ended by calling on the public to engage respectfully with their elected representatives ahead of what they described as an important decision for Wales.

Tough warning as Eluned Morgan says Wales could be disproportionately hit if the US raises tariffs linked to Greenland demand

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has urged the Prime Minister to “stand firm” in the face of threats by Donald Trump to impose higher tariffs unless the UK backs his stated desire to purchase Greenland.

In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, First Minister Eluned Morgan said Wales could be hit particularly hard by any additional tariffs because of the scale and make-up of Welsh exports to the United States.

Welsh goods exports to the US, excluding oil products, were valued at £2.1bn in the year ending September 2025. The Welsh Government said more than 1,000 Welsh businesses, around a third of Wales’ exporters, send goods to the US.

It added that Wales’ exports to the US are made up of a higher proportion of goods than the rest of the UK. It said 59% of Welsh exports to the US are goods, compared to 32% for the UK overall.

Eluned Morgan said: “People across Wales are already struggling with the cost of living – increased tariffs will only put further pressure on Welsh businesses.

“I have written to Sir Keir Starmer setting out that Wales could be disproportionately affected by additional tariffs, which would be a challenge for many Welsh businesses.

“Threatening the use of tariffs is an unacceptable and aggressive act from a country we consider a friend and ally. Welsh jobs are on the line and as First Minister I will defend them to the hilt.

“I recognise the importance of the US to the Welsh economy – there are around 330 US-based companies in Wales, employing just over 40,000 people. But there comes a point where principle must be respected. It is the people of Greenland and Denmark who should be determining the future of the island, and international law must be upheld.

“We cannot continue to be threatened with more tariffs by Donald Trump. At this critical moment, we must stand by our allies and the values we hold dear.”

Critics say that questions over delivery remain

THE UK GOVERNMENT has unveiled a £15bn Warm Homes Plan, which ministers say will help upgrade millions of properties with measures such as insulation, solar panels, home batteries and heat pumps, cutting energy costs and tackling fuel poverty.

Downing Street claims the programme could lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty by 2030, describing it as the largest public investment in home upgrades in British history. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “A warm home shouldn’t be a privilege, it should be a basic guarantee,” while Energy Secretary Ed Miliband called it a “national project” to improve affordability and energy security.

What is being offered

Government statements set out three main strands:

Support for low-income households
Ministers say targeted funding will provide fully-funded upgrades for households in or at risk of fuel poverty, with packages tailored to the property – including measures such as insulation and rooftop solar.

An offer for other households
The plan also includes government-backed finance aimed at reducing the upfront cost of home energy technologies for homeowners who want to upgrade, alongside continued support for heat pumps.

New protections for renters and future standards for new homes
The Government says it will strengthen requirements to improve energy efficiency in rented homes over time and link the wider programme to the Future Homes Standard, expected to come in from early 2026, with an emphasis on building new homes that are cheaper to run.

What it could mean for Wales

Energy policy is set at Westminster, but the Government says the plan includes funding allocations for devolved nations, which could feed into programmes chosen by the Welsh Government. Existing support in Wales includes the Warm Homes Nest scheme, which provides upgrades for eligible households.

Rural parts of west Wales, including Pembrokeshire, contain many older and harder-to-heat properties, as well as off-gas homes where insulation and correctly specified systems can make the biggest difference. However, specialists have long warned that retrofitting older, solid-wall or stone properties often needs careful design to avoid problems such as damp and condensation.

Sceptical voices: targets, costs and capacity

While the announcement has been welcomed by campaigners who want faster action on cold and unhealthy housing, critics and analysts have raised concerns about whether the plan can be delivered at the scale promised.

National coverage notes that the Government has dropped plans for a future ban on new gas boilers, opting instead for incentives rather than regulation, and has set an ambition of around 450,000 heat pump installations per year by 2030 – a level some argue falls short of what would be needed to transform the market.

There are also questions over installer capacity, supply chains and quality control, after previous schemes faced criticism for inconsistency and uneven outcomes.

Next steps

Ministers say further detail will follow on eligibility, how households apply, and how support will be coordinated with devolved administrations. For families struggling with high bills, the key test will be whether the funding reaches the homes most in need quickly — and whether the measures offered work for the reality of Britain’s ageing housing stock, including rural communities in west Wales.