News

Welsh Labour criticised for ‘failing thousands of families’ on childcare

Published

5 months ago

December 12, 2024

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’S draft budget has sparked debate, with the Welsh Liberal Democrats labelling it a “missed opportunity” for failing to deliver on childcare, while Labour officials defend their record on supporting families.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued that the government missed a “golden opportunity” to support Welsh families during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis while delivering a boost to the Welsh economy. They claim that high childcare costs are forcing more parents out of work, and the extra £20 million allocated in the budget will only “paper over the cracks.”

The Liberal Democrats have proposed a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for all children in Wales aged 9 months to 4 years. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS expressed disappointment, stating:

“Instead of taking this opportunity to steer Welsh families away from sky-rocketing childcare costs, the Welsh Government has instead left them to fend for themselves. Thousands of people from across Wales are being forced to make the difficult choice between paying out of pocket for childcare or leaving work.

This shouldn’t be the case. We want to see a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for every single child in Wales between the ages of 9 months and 4 years old. By taking away the burden of childcare costs, we can help people get back into work, which will give our economy a huge boost.

The UK Labour Government has been talking about encouraging more economic growth, but it appears as though their colleagues in Cardiff Bay didn’t get the message.”

However, the Welsh Government has countered these claims, highlighting existing childcare support schemes and their broader efforts to ease financial pressures on families. A Welsh Government spokesperson said:

“Our government remains committed to supporting families across Wales. Our existing childcare offer provides up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds during term time, which we extended to include support during the school holidays.

In addition, we are investing £20 million to enhance childcare provision further, ensuring families who need it most can access support. We are continually working to develop policies that benefit Welsh families and strengthen our economy.”

The debate comes amid growing scrutiny of government policies as families grapple with the rising cost of living. Critics and supporters alike will be watching closely to see how the draft budget evolves and whether further measures are introduced to address childcare costs.

News

Milford Haven Buffaloes thank Waterloo Club for support

Published

9 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE ROYAL ANTEDILUVIAN ORDER OF BUFFALOES, Harbour Lodge 10704, has extended heartfelt thanks to the Waterloo Club in Hakin for their support and generosity over the past 14 months.

The lodge, which is currently in the process of moving to a new venue, has been based at the club since early 2023. During that time, members have successfully raised funds for local charities and supported community initiatives.

A spokesperson said: “We are extremely grateful to the Waterloo Club for their hospitality. Their kindness has helped us continue our charitable work in Milford Haven and beyond. We look forward to continuing our efforts to support the community at our new location.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes is encouraged to get in touch via email at: [email protected]

Education

Council shifts stance after backlash over Welsh education survey

Published

25 minutes ago

May 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New pledge to gather school choice data from all parents — not just those choosing Welsh-medium education

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has revised its position following mounting criticism over its handling of Welsh-medium education policy, agreeing to broaden the scope of its planned parental survey.

The move comes after a political and public backlash to comments made during the Council Cabinet’s April meeting, where Deputy Leader Paul Miller suggested that some parents were choosing Welsh-medium schools not for the language but for newer facilities. His remarks, and the nature of the Cabinet debate, drew sharp criticism from opposition leader Cllr Huw Murphy, the Welsh Language Commissioner, and Cabinet Secretary for the Welsh Language and Culture, Mark Drakeford.

Critics accused the Cabinet of taking an “anti-Welsh” tone and of singling out parents who chose Welsh-medium education. The row escalated after Mr Drakeford told BBC Cymru: “I can’t see why we would ask parents why they choose Welsh or why they choose English… Local authorities should be making the case for choosing Welsh-medium education, not questioning those who do.”

Now, in an apparent attempt to address those concerns and reset the debate, the Council has issued a fresh statement following its Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (May 21). It confirms that data collection will be considered for all parents, not just those opting for Welsh-medium education.

A Council spokesperson said: “Cabinet has today agreed to explore the collection of information from all parents, regardless of language preference, in order to better understand school choice across the county.”

The updated resolution now asks the Director of Education to explore methods for capturing data on the relative importance of different factors influencing school choice. These include language preference, learning outcomes, quality of facilities, transport provision, and support for pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN).

The Council says the data will help inform future decisions on modernising the school estate, ensuring they reflect the priorities of a broad and representative sample of parents.

Despite the softened stance, the issue remains politically sensitive. Cllr Huw Murphy, whose formal “call-in” prompted the Council to revisit its earlier decision, has argued that any perception of bias against Welsh-medium provision risks undermining public trust and the Council’s obligations under the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP).

The Welsh Language Commissioner had also expressed concern over the original approach, stating that questioning only parents choosing Welsh-medium schools was “not compatible” with the Council’s statutory duties.

The revised position may go some way toward cooling tensions, but the debate has already highlighted deeper divisions over language policy, school choice, and how local authorities should approach data collection in the context of bilingual education.

The Herald will continue to follow developments closely as the Council works through the next phase of its data-gathering plans.

Charity

St Davids RNLI duck race returns this bank holiday

Published

1 hour ago

May 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

700 ducks to race the River Alun in fun-filled fundraiser

ST DAVIDS RNLI is preparing to welcome crowds once again for its much-loved duck race, which takes place on bank holiday Monday, 26 May, on the River Alun outside St Davids Cathedral.

Building on the success of last year’s event, this year’s race will see 700 plastic ducks released into the river, all competing for cash prizes. The race begins at 1:00pm, with festivities kicking off from 11:00am.

Visitors can enjoy a pop-up shop, home-made cakes, and the chance to name a duck for just £2 – with all proceeds supporting the vital, lifesaving work of the RNLI in St Davids.

“The duck race is always a fantastic day out for all ages and a brilliant way to support the lifeboat station,” said Simone Eade, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer. “Every duck sold helps us continue our mission of saving lives at sea.”