News

FM accused of ‘dereliction of duty’ over winter fuel payment cut

Published

8 months ago

April 17, 2025

ONLY TWO LETTERS SENT – NEITHER FROM THE FIRST MINISTER

A FREEDOM of Information request by the Welsh Conservatives has revealed that the First Minister has not corresponded with the UK Government regarding the recent cut to the Winter Fuel Payment—despite widespread concern over its impact on pensioners in Wales.

The request, which asked for all correspondence from the First Minister, Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers to the UK Government concerning the Welsh implications of the cut, revealed just two letters had been sent. Neither letter came from the First Minister.

One letter, dated 9 August 2024, was from Jane Hutt, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Social Justice. While it acknowledged the potential impact of the cut and estimated that up to 45% of Welsh households may have fallen into fuel poverty after the 2022 energy price surge, it stopped short of directly opposing the UK Government’s decision. Instead, Hutt reiterated the Welsh Government’s call for the introduction of a social energy tariff and highlighted ongoing hardship in Wales.

The second letter was from Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall, who defended the removal of the universal Winter Fuel Payment on the grounds of fiscal responsibility. In her reply to Jane Hutt, dated 18 September 2024, Kendall emphasised the need to focus support on those “in the greatest need” and criticised the low uptake of Pension Credit among eligible pensioners.

The revelation that the First Minister has not personally written to the UK Government on the matter has sparked sharp criticism from the Welsh Conservatives.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar MS said: “The First Minister’s failure to stand up for Welsh pensioners and oppose Keir Starmer’s cut to winter fuel is nothing short of a dereliction of duty.

“It is clear that for Labour at both ends of the M4, older people—who have paid into a system their entire lives—are just an afterthought.

“The Welsh Conservatives will protect our pensioners by rolling back increased spending on Labour’s bureaucracy budget to introduce a new Welsh Winter Fuel Allowance, so that pensioners won’t have to choose between heating and eating.”

The FOI response has raised wider questions about the Welsh Government’s influence over UK-wide policy decisions that have significant effects in devolved areas such as public health and poverty.

The Herald understands that while the Welsh Government has advocated for energy fairness and introduced support schemes within its limited powers, no official protest or direct appeal from the First Minister’s office was made over the withdrawal of universal Winter Fuel Payments.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

10 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.