News

Labour and Plaid vote down Tory plan on jobs and growth

Published

2 months ago

October 1, 2025

LABOUR and Plaid Cymru Members of the Senedd have voted against a Welsh Conservative motion which set out a package of tax and regulatory changes the party claimed would “boost growth and create jobs.”

The motion, debated on Wednesday (Oct 1), proposed cutting the basic Welsh rate of income tax by 1p, scrapping business rates for small firms, axing the proposed tourism levy before it comes into force, reversing the 20mph default speed limit, and spreading public investment “across the whole of Wales.”

It also urged the UK Government to cancel the planned increase in employers’ National Insurance and to reverse inheritance tax changes affecting family firms.

Welsh Conservative economy spokesperson Samuel Kurtz MS said after the vote: “Only the Welsh Conservatives are putting forward a positive plan to fix our economy.”

Labour and Plaid’s objections

Income tax: Since 2019, the Senedd has set Welsh Rates of Income Tax (WRIT) to match those in England and Northern Ireland. A 1p cut would reduce devolved revenues that directly fund the Welsh budget. Ministers argue this would mean less money for public services.

Business rates: The Welsh Government already provides targeted reliefs, including a 40% discount for Retail, Leisure and Hospitality premises in 2025/26, capped per business. Ministers say abolishing business rates altogether would require cuts elsewhere or new revenue.

Tourism levy: The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Act, which gained Royal Assent on September 18, gives councils the option of introducing a small overnight charge from April 2027, with proceeds ring-fenced for local infrastructure. Labour and Plaid say it will help visitor-heavy communities, though no council is obliged to adopt it.

20mph speed limit: Previous attempts to reverse the new default limit have been rejected in the Senedd. Ministers say adjustments will be made to improve implementation, but not a wholesale U-turn.

Wales’s labour market

The latest Labour Market Overview (Sept 16) shows Wales’s employment rate at 70.8%, down 1.4 percentage points on the quarter. Unemployment stands at 4.7%, unchanged. By comparison, the UK employment rate is 75.2%.

The Welsh Government notes employment in Wales has typically trailed the UK average for the past decade.

Parties’ positions in brief

Welsh Conservatives: Say tax cuts and scrapping business rates and the levy would “open Wales for business” and tackle economic inactivity.
Welsh Labour Government: Argues tax cuts would reduce budgets for services and insists existing reliefs already support small firms. It says the levy is optional and designed to reinvest in visitor areas.
Plaid Cymru: Supported the levy through its passage and calls for targeted investment rather than across-the-board cuts.

Outcome

The Senedd rejected the Conservative motion after debate on Wednesday. Official voting records are expected to be published in the coming days.

Ministry of Defence

Castlemartin range set for heavy activity as winter live-fire exercise begins

Published

8 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Army warns of late-night firing and increased traffic

CASTLEMARTIN Training Area will be extremely busy over the next few weeks as the Army begins a major live-fire exercise running from now until to 5 December.

The winter training block will see troops carrying out critical preparation ahead of future deployments, with extensive armoured manoeuvres and both daytime and night-time firing.

Extended firing hours

Live firing will take place between the following times:

Monday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Tuesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Thursday: 8:00am – 6:00pm and 8:00pm – 3:00am
Friday: 8:00am – 6:00pm

There will be no live firing at weekends, although military vehicles will still be moving around the area.

Residents are being reminded that these times are the earliest and latest possible firing windows. Not every day will start or finish at the maximum hours listed.

Traffic expected on rural roads

The Army says there will be increased vehicle movements on local roads—particularly in Angle, Castlemartin and the Freshwater West area—in the week leading up to the exercise and throughout the training period.

A spokesperson said the support of local people is appreciated: “These exercises are essential for maintaining readiness and ensuring our troops are fully trained for any future operational requirement.”

Crime

Two Milford Haven men sent to Crown Court on GBH charges

Published

9 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

The incident stems from a violent incident outside The Vibe public house, Milford Haven involving three men – a woman was also wounded in the incident

TWO Milford Haven men have been sent to Swansea Crown Court charged with section 18 wounding after an alleged incident in the town on November 15.

David McCallum, 41, of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates court on Monday (Nov 17). He is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding a woman in Milford Haven with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

McCallum also faces a second section 18 charge alleging that, on the same date in Milford Haven, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded a man with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.

He was represented by solicitor Tom Lloyd, with the prosecution conducted by Nia James.

On Tuesday (Nov 18), Nathan Abbott, 31, also of Plas Peregrine, Steynton, appeared before District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest magistrates court.

Abbott is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a man in Milford Haven on November 15 with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

He was represented by Mike Kelleher, of Welch & Co.

Abbott also gave no plea, and his case was likewise sent to Swansea Crown Court under section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Both McCallum and Abbott were remanded on conditional bail.

McCallum’s bail conditions include a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:00am, to be electronically monitored, not to contact directly or indirectly witnesses, and not to enter any public house, licensed club or off-licence.

Abbott’s bail conditions include living and sleeping each night at his home address , not to contact witnesses directly or indirectly, and not to enter licensed premises.

Both men must appear for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 19, 2025, at 9:00am.

No pre-sentence reports were ordered and no indication was given regarding any victim personal statements at this stage.

Crime

Aberystwyth man remanded after admitting cocaine supply

Published

9 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Court Reporter

Case sent to Swansea Crown Court for sentencing

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has been remanded in custody after admitting possessing cocaine with intent to supply and having £7,000 in criminal cash.

Luke Hutton, 25, of Corporation Street, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Nov 17) for his first hearing. The case was heard by a bench of Mr J Steadman, Mrs M Scott and Mr R John. He was represented by Jessica Hill and Mike Kelleher, while the prosecution was led by Nia James.

Hutton pleaded guilty to two offences arising from a police incident at Yr Hafan, Princess Street, Aberystwyth, on November 14.

The first charge was possessing £7,000 in criminal property, contrary to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The second was possessing a quantity of cocaine, a Class A drug, with intent to supply.

Magistrates were told that Hutton indicated guilty pleas to both matters on the day of his appearance.

Because of the seriousness of the charges, the bench committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence under Section 14 of the Sentencing Act 2020. A pre-sentence report has been ordered.

Magistrates refused bail, citing the likelihood of further offending, the seriousness of the offences and the likely custodial sentence. Hutton was remanded into custody.

He will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on December 1, 2025, at 9:00am, for a committal for sentence hearing, listed for 30 minutes.