First Minister corrects herself after campaign speech slip-up at Barry Island event

WELSH LABOUR leader Eluned Morgan accidentally urged supporters to “vote Plaid Cymru” during a campaign event in Barry Island.

The First Minister was addressing Labour members on Thursday (Apr 30), less than a week before voters go to the polls in the Senedd election.

She told the audience to vote Welsh Labour next week, before switching into Welsh and mistakenly saying: “Pleidleisiwch Plaid Cymru” — “vote Plaid Cymru”.

Baroness Morgan immediately corrected herself, saying “Plaid Lafur”, meaning Labour Party.

The slip was met with laughter and applause from supporters at the event.

Speaking afterwards, the First Minister said the mistake came after switching languages during a tiring campaign.

She said she was “very, very keen” for people to vote Welsh Labour, adding that voters knew where they stood with her party.

The gaffe came as Labour launched details of the costings behind some of its election pledges.

Welsh Labour has led the Welsh Government since devolution, but opinion polls suggest the party faces a difficult contest, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK both hoping to make major gains on Thursday, May 7.

Wales records strongest year-on-year growth of any UK nation or region, according to Lloyds Business Barometer

WELSH business confidence rose in April as firms reported growing optimism about the wider UK economy, new figures show.

The latest Business Barometer from Lloyds found that confidence among businesses in Wales rose by eight points to 38% during the month.

That was despite overall UK business confidence falling by 11 points to 44% in April.

The survey found Welsh firms’ confidence in their own trading prospects remained unchanged at 46%, while optimism about the wider economy climbed 16 points to 30%.

When combined, those figures gave Wales a headline confidence reading of 38%, up from 30% in March.

Wales also recorded the largest year-on-year confidence growth of any UK nation or region and was the only area to report both year-on-year and month-on-month growth.

A net balance of 34% of businesses in Wales said they expected to increase staff numbers over the next year, up nine points on the previous month.

Looking ahead, Welsh firms identified investment in their teams as the main target area for growth, with 48% citing training and staff development.

Other priorities included introducing new technology, such as AI or automation, at 42%, and evolving products or services at 40%.

The Business Barometer, which surveys 1,200 businesses each month, has been running since 2002 and is used as an early indicator of UK economic trends.

Amanda Murphy, CEO for Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking, said: “Businesses told us their confidence fell as inflation pressures re-emerged, global uncertainty persisted and costs remained elevated.

“While sentiment declined, it remained above the long-term average, with nearly two-thirds expecting stronger output in the coming year.

“UK businesses are resilient and adept at deploying strategies to defend growth in uncertain conditions. Over the past month, we’ve seen them opt for flexibility wherever possible.

“They’re building contingency into their short and medium-term plans, rather than expecting a rapid return to normal. Protecting margins has become more important.

“That means tougher cost scrutiny and a greater focus on balancing growth with profitability.

“In this environment, as with other recent market disruptions, we continue to observe that sustainable success comes from discipline, resilience and clarity about what really drives long-term value.”

Nathan Morgan, area director for Wales at Lloyds, said: “Wales is bucking the UK-wide trend when it comes to business confidence, increasing during April against the national trend.

“This confidence is the result of Welsh firms’ ongoing focus on investment to protect their position against future disruption.

“At Lloyds, we’ll continue to nurture this recent momentum of growth by working with businesses across the nation to equip them with the financial tools they need.”

Across the UK, firms’ confidence in their own trading outlook fell six points to 54%, while optimism in the wider economy dropped 17 points to 33%.

The East Midlands was the most confident UK nation or region in April at 53%, followed by London at 51% and the West Midlands at 49%.

Charity says Wales should continue science-led approach as bovine TB cases fall

BADGER Trust has called on the next Welsh Government to maintain a science-led and non-lethal approach to tackling bovine tuberculosis.

The charity says Wales should continue to focus on cattle testing, farm biosecurity and support for farmers, rather than wildlife intervention.

According to Badger Trust, bovine TB cases in Wales had fallen by 13.6% by the end of 2025, without any wildlife culling. It said this compared with a 5% fall in England over the same period.

The charity said 5.3% of cattle herds in Wales were not officially TB-free at the end of 2025, down 0.4 percentage points on the previous year. It said 567 new herd incidents were recorded during the year, alongside a 27% reduction in early cattle slaughter.

Badger Trust said bovine TB remains a serious threat to cattle health, but argued that the best response is a cattle-focused policy, including more frequent and enhanced testing, improved farm hygiene, and non-slaughter options for cattle testing positive.

The charity said: “The premature culling of cattle due to a failed bovine TB test is outdated and unnecessary. Instead, strict segregation is an effective alternative.

“The main focus must be on eliminating the reservoir of bovine TB in the national herd in preparation for cattle vaccination.”

Badger Trust also argued that bovine TB can remain dormant in cattle and in the environment for long periods before being detected, which can lead to mistaken assumptions that infection has entered a closed herd from wildlife.

It said the disease can also be spread through contaminated vehicles, workwear, manure and slurry if proper biosecurity measures are not followed.

The charity added: “Focusing on badgers distracts from the real issue, as DNA testing shows that 94-95% of bovine TB infections are transmitted directly between cattle.

“The only effective way to combat bovine TB is to address it at its source: within the cattle population.”

Badger Trust is urging the next Welsh Government to “hold its nerve” and continue with a science-led, evidence-based, non-lethal policy.

Nigel Palmer, Chief Executive of Badger Trust, said the charity wanted Wales to continue “leading by example” in its approach to tackling the disease.

Badger Trust says it welcomes the end of intensive badger culling licences in England in 2026, but remains opposed to presenting badger vaccination as the main solution to bovine TB. It argues that improved cattle testing and stronger farm biosecurity offer a more effective and humane way forward.

The charity also warned that badgers face a separate threat from changes linked to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which it says could weaken protections for badger setts in development areas.

Badger Trust is the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales and works through a network of local badger groups. Its Badgers Belong Here campaign promotes badger protection and public education.