Party accuses rivals of “all words, no actions” as battle over renters and council tax intensifies ahead of Senedd election

A POLITICAL row has broken out ahead of the next Welsh Parliament election after Welsh Labour launched a twin attack on the Greens and Reform UK over housing policy and council tax.

The party issued a strongly worded response following comments by Green Party deputy leader Zack Polanski (pictured) during a recent interview on BBC Politics Wales discussing renters’ rights and housing shortages.

Welsh Labour accused the Greens of saying they support tenants while opposing legislation aimed at increasing house building.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “The Greens say they want to back renters. Then why did they block the bill in parliament that will deliver more houses?

“All words, no actions – that’s what you get from the Greens.”

Labour pointed to the vote by Green MPs against the UK government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which ministers argue would help speed up the delivery of new housing.

The spokesperson added: “At a time when families across Wales are struggling to find somewhere affordable to live, blocking legislation designed to build more homes simply doesn’t make sense.”

The criticism also referenced proposals by a Green-controlled council in Bristol to consider selling council houses in order to fund housing services.

The exchange highlights growing political competition between Labour and the Green Party of England and Wales as housing increasingly dominates the political agenda.

Across Wales, shortages of affordable homes, rising rents and pressure from second homes have pushed housing towards the top of voters’ concerns.

Welsh Labour also used the opportunity to criticise the growing influence of Reform UK, which has been campaigning heavily on council tax and cost-of-living issues.

Responding to comments from James Evans discussing Reform’s stance on council tax, the spokesperson said the party had failed to deliver tax cuts where it holds power.

“Reform has no leg to stand on when it comes to talking about council tax rates,” the spokesperson said.

“They promised tax cuts in the English councils they run and haven’t delivered – in fact just over the border in Worcester council tax has gone up by nine per cent.”

Political observers say the exchange reflects a wider shift taking place in Welsh politics as the next Senedd election approaches.

With the expansion of the Welsh Parliament and the introduction of a new proportional voting system, smaller parties are expected to find it easier to gain representation.

That has encouraged parties such as the Greens and Reform to push harder into territory traditionally dominated by Labour.

For many voters, however, the debate ultimately centres on familiar concerns: the rising cost of living, the availability of housing, and the level of council tax bills.

With the election campaign beginning to take shape, those issues are likely to dominate the political battleground in Wales in the months ahead.

Lise Davidsen leads star cast in Wagner’s epic tale of love and death in special cinema broadcast on Sunday (Mar 22)

AFTER years of anticipation, a truly unmissable event arrives in cinemas worldwide as the electrifying Lise Davidsen takes on one of the ultimate roles for dramatic soprano – the Irish princess Isolde – in Wagner’s transcendent meditation on love and death, Tristan und Isolde.

Heroic tenor Michael Spyres stars opposite Davidsen as the love-struck Tristan in what promises to be a powerful and emotionally charged performance.

The production also marks the arrival of a new staging at the Metropolitan Opera by Yuval Sharon, making his Met debut. Sharon has been hailed by The New York Times as “the most visionary opera director of his generation” and was the first American to direct an opera at the famous Wagner festival in Bayreuth.

Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin also leads Tristan und Isolde at the Met for the first time in this landmark production.

The cast includes mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova reprising her acclaimed portrayal of Brangäne, alongside bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny as Kurwenal following his celebrated Met appearances in Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländerand the Ring cycle. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green makes an important role debut as King Marke.

Reviewing the production for The Observer, Fiona Maddocks described it as a “glorious production” and “well worth catching”, adding: “This was one of those rare and blissful nights when dropped jaws silenced noisy opinion in the queue for coats afterwards.”

The recorded broadcast of Tristan und Isolde will be screened at the Torch Theatre on Sunday (Mar 22) at 4:00pm.

For further information visit www.torchtheatre.co.uk or contact the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

ENDS

Ministers confirm talks with allies after Donald Trump calls on Britain to help protect vital oil shipping route

THE UK GOVERNMENT is examining “all options” to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the Middle East threaten one of the world’s most important oil routes.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain is already in discussions with allies, including the United States, about how to restore safe navigation through the narrow shipping corridor, through which around one fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Miliband said reopening the strait was a global priority but stressed the government favours de-escalation rather than military confrontation.

“It is very important that we get the Strait of Hormuz reopened,” he said. “We are in talks with allies about how to secure that key shipping route. Any options to help the Strait reopen are being looked at.”

The comments come after US President Donald Trump called on several major powers — including the UK, France, Japan, South Korea and China — to send warships to the region to ensure the vital oil corridor can no longer be threatened by Iran.

The escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran has already led to attacks on shipping in the Gulf, raising fears that Tehran could attempt to block or severely disrupt the strait.

Political divisions in Westminster

The prospect of British military involvement has exposed sharp political divisions in Westminster.

Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said the UK should explore deploying ships or surveillance drones to the region if doing so would protect Britain’s national interests.

She argued that keeping international shipping lanes open and protecting military assets abroad was vital for global stability and the UK economy.

However, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey warned Britain should not automatically follow Washington into another conflict.

He said the quickest way to stabilise oil markets and secure the route was through diplomatic de-escalation rather than military intervention.

Davey also criticised President Trump’s approach to the crisis, warning the UK should not be “at the beck and call” of an American president.

Global oil supply at risk

The Strait of Hormuz is widely regarded as one of the most strategically important shipping routes in the world.

Bounded by Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south, the narrow channel connects the oil-rich Gulf region to the Arabian Sea and global markets.

Around 3,000 vessels pass through the strait every month, carrying an estimated 20 million barrels of oil per day.

Any prolonged disruption could send global oil prices soaring and drive up fuel and energy costs in countries including the UK.

Government sources have warned the economic impact of the Middle East conflict could be “huge”, with ministers already examining measures to shield households and businesses from potential spikes in energy prices.

The developments are being closely watched in Pembrokeshire, home to the South Hook and Dragon LNG terminals at Milford Haven. Tankers carrying Qatari liquefied natural gas frequently pass through the Strait of Hormuz before reaching the UK, meaning any disruption in the Gulf could have implications for energy supplies and prices in Wales.

For now, the government insists diplomacy remains the preferred path — but with tensions rising and pressure from Washington increasing, Britain may soon face difficult choices about how far it is willing to go to secure the world’s most critical oil chokepoint.