News

Eluned Morgan: Labour ready for ‘one hell of a fight’ before Senedd election

Published

2 months ago

September 28, 2025

Leader sets out ‘Red Welsh Way’ and new pledges on high streets, fair work and transport, while warning of risks from Reform and Plaid

WELSH LABOUR leader and First Minister Eluned Morgan used her UK conference speech to rally activists for “one hell of a fight” ahead of May’s Senedd election, setting out what she called the “Red Welsh Way” and warning that Reform UK and Plaid Cymru pose a threat to public services and stability.

Opening with “Siwmae,” Ms Morgan said Labour and Wales were “entwined,” but warned that polls were “not looking good” and voters were disillusioned. “We’re in this together, all of us on the front line,” she said, accusing opponents of offering “easy answers” without plans.

Ms Morgan framed Welsh Labour’s record around three principles—equality, security and community—highlighting social partnership in law, the Future Generations Act, universal free primary school meals, free prescriptions, free bus passes for older people and a Real Living Wage guarantee for care workers. “That, my friends, is socialism in action,” she told delegates.

New pledges for high streets and fair work

Citing concerns raised on doorsteps—particularly in Caerphilly, where a by-election is pending—Ms Morgan said a Welsh Labour Government would introduce licensing powers to curb the spread of vape shops “to keep town centres safe, balanced and welcoming.”
She said future Welsh Government support for businesses would be tied to “fair work” conditions: paying the Real Living Wage, ending exploitative zero-hours contracts and enabling trade union access. “Public money must mean public good,” she said.

Transport and late-night services

Ms Morgan pointed to £800m spent on new trains and the South Wales Metro, announcing from December new late-night services between Cardiff and the Valleys and a doubling of trains on the Wrexham–Chester line.

Partnership with UK Labour

“When Labour governs in Cardiff and Westminster, partnership delivers,” she said, crediting a record financial settlement with enabling safer coal tips, higher wages and “2.7 million NHS appointments delivered each month.” She added that people “need us to move faster… deliver bigger.”

Arguing that ambition outstrips current devolved levers, Ms Morgan called for youth justice powers for Wales, fair rail funding and greater control over “our wind, our seas, our energy.” “We will never stop pressing for every power, every pound Wales deserves,” she said.

Attacks on Reform and Plaid

Ms Morgan accused Reform UK of seeking to “gut the NHS” and prioritising profit over people, drawing a parallel with UKIP’s 2016 Senedd record. She criticised Plaid Cymru’s focus on independence as “promises without plans,” and said Wales needs “experience and stability in an age of instability” rather than “fantasy politics.” Some claims about opponents were framed as her assertions from the conference platform.

Switching briefly into Welsh—“Mae brwydyr anferth o’n blaen…”—Ms Morgan said Welsh Labour had “changed lives” but that progress could be reversed if the party loses next year. “Let’s build, not break… Labour never gives up. Labour never gives in,” she concluded. “So are you up for it, conference? Then bring it on!”

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon, marking the start of physical deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock shortly after 4pm on Wednesday, bringing tower sections and other heavy components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, is due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.

The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock. Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

Weather conditions are currently favourable for this morning’s arrival of the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are expected to begin next week, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.

Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

2 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.

Local Government

Sewage leak at Pembroke Commons prompts urgent clean-up works

Published

3 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Council pollution officers say they have no enforcement powers over Welsh Water infrastructure

SEWAGE contamination on the Commons in Pembroke has prompted an urgent response from pollution officers, after a leak was reported by a member of the public on Tuesday.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Pollution Control Team confirmed they were alerted yesterday afternoon to sewage surrounding a manhole cover on the site. The Herald understands that officers immediately notified Welsh Water (DCWW) network technicians to investigate the incident “as a matter of urgency”.

County councillor Jonathan Grimes, who represents Pembroke St Mary South and Monkton, said the authority had been clear that it holds no enforcement powers over Welsh Water assets.

“Whilst we work constructively with Welsh Water, we have no authority to intervene on their apparatus or to carry out enforcement action against them for such pollution incidents,” the Pollution Control Team said in a statement shared with the councillor.

Urgent works underway

Council officers visited the site on Wednesday morning alongside contractors and Welsh Water technicians to assess clean-up options. According to the team, works will include cleaning the contaminated ground in and around the manhole cover and fencing off the affected area “until safe”.

Cllr Grimes said officers would return to the scene on Thursday to check on progress and ensure the area is properly secured.

Residents who notice any further issues have been urged to contact the Pollution Control Team directly.

Further updates are expected later this week.