News

Spending Review slammed as rail funding ‘falls short’ for Wales

Published

9 months ago

June 11, 2025

Tories accuse Labour of rewriting history, Lib Dems say Wales ‘gets the scraps’, and unions urge caution

LABOUR’S headline £445 million pledge for Welsh rail has come under fire from all sides of the political spectrum following this week’s UK Government Spending Review.

Welsh Conservatives have strongly criticised the announcement, calling it a “kick in the teeth” and accusing Labour of trying to take credit for a level of investment that pales in comparison to previous Conservative funding.

During Control Periods 5 and 6, the UK Government invested £750 million and £350 million in Welsh rail infrastructure respectively—totalling £1.1 billion, compared to the £445 million now pledged with no clear timeline. Conservatives also say Labour continues to claim credit for the South Wales Metro, despite half of it being funded by the previous UK Government through the Growth Deal.

Sam Rowlands MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, said: “While any investment in Wales is welcome, it is disingenuous for Labour to frame this announcement as ‘generous’ when previous UK Conservative Government contributions far exceeded these figures.
“We were promised two Governments on either side of the M4 working together for the benefit of Wales, but instead, we have seen broken promises and a reluctance to provide Wales with its fair share of funding.”

Welsh Conservative Leader Darren Millar MS added: “Eluned Morgan in Cardiff Bay and Keir Starmer in Westminster have failed, forgotten and fleeced the people of Wales.”

The Welsh Liberal Democrats also expressed dismay, with Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP saying: “Yet again, we have seen Wales get the scraps. The funding announced today falls far short of the billions owed to Wales over recent years.
“Without devolving rail fully to Wales, we will continue to see these scandals repeat as English projects are ramped up while we’re left behind.”

However, the GMB union welcomed parts of the Spending Review, particularly the funding pledges for healthcare and education.

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “GMB will always welcome extra cash for the NHS, and fresh money for the police, prisons and probation is something we’ve long called for, along with funding for school buildings and mental health provision in education.”

Despite that optimism, financial experts have issued a stark warning over the long-term fiscal consequences

Nigel Green, CEO of global advisory firm deVere Group, said the Chancellor is “spending money she hasn’t got” and warned of a looming “tax reckoning” in the Autumn Budget.

“Every signal from this Spending Review points to the UK tightening the screws on its most mobile, economically productive residents. And they’re already voting with their feet,” said Green.

The Welsh Government has yet to respond to the escalating criticism. A full breakdown of the transport funding timeline and allocations is expected later this month.

Spending Review 2025: Key points at a glance
Chancellor sets out multi-year budgets and investment plans

Health

NHS day-to-day budget in England to rise 3% in real terms, reaching £226bn by 2029.

Education

Schools budget to rise 0.4% in real terms.
Free school meals expanded to 500,000 more children.
£615m set aside for teacher pay rise—schools to fund a quarter of the cost.

Crime and Justice

Home Office day-to-day budget to fall 1.7%.
Police “spending power” up 2.3% a year—dependent on local tax increases.
Border Security Command to get £280m more by 2029.
Pledge to end hotel use for asylum seekers.
Ministry of Justice to receive 1.8% annual increases.

Defence

Daily MoD budget up 0.7% in real terms.
Investment spending to average 7.3% over the period.
Defence spending to rise from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.

Housing and Local Government

£39bn pledged for social housing in England (2026–2036).
Annual average spend to rise from £2.3bn to £3.9bn.

Transport, Energy and Environment

£15.6bn for English regional transport (2027–2031).
£11.5bn public investment committed for Sizewell C nuclear project.
£3 cap on single bus fares extended to March 2027.
Treasury to revise rules for assessing infrastructure projects.

International Affairs

Foreign Office budget to drop 6.8% in real terms.
Overseas aid to fall to 0.3% of national income by 2027.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

17 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

17 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

18 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.