News

Welsh Conservatives condemn £38m cut in new ‘Local Growth Fund’ for Wales

Published

2 months ago

October 15, 2025

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have launched a strong attack on the UK Government’s new funding scheme for Wales, accusing ministers of breaking promises and delivering a real-terms cut to investment.

Under the previous post-Brexit replacement for EU regional funding — the Shared Prosperity Fund — Wales received around £585 million over three years. Under the newly introduced Local Growth Fund, that allocation falls to £547 million over the same period — a reduction of £38 million.

The announcement has triggered political controversy in both Cardiff Bay and Westminster, as parties debate whether the change represents a meaningful cut or a technical adjustment within the post-EU funding regime.

Funding framework and government response

The UK and Welsh Governments have jointly agreed a framework for the Local Growth Fund, with decisions on its deployment devolved to Cardiff.

According to the Welsh Government, the fund will support growth, productivity, and local priorities — including infrastructure, skills, innovation, and investment in key sectors such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

First Minister Eluned Morgan acknowledged the settlement is “slightly smaller” than before, but stressed that Wales would still receive about 22 per cent of the UK-wide fund. She said funding would “reach all parts of Wales” and that devolved decision-making would ensure investment matched local priorities.

UK Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the new approach reflected “a commitment to local democracy,” adding: “Decisions are best made by people in Wales.”

Despite those assurances, opposition politicians say the reduction amounts to a broken promise and a warning sign of tighter budgets ahead.

Tory outcry over ‘broken promises and vanity projects’

Samuel Kurtz MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Energy, issued a stinging statement accusing Labour of giving Wales “tens of millions of pounds less” than under the previous scheme.

“The Welsh Labour Government getting to hold the purse strings does not fill me with hope,” he said. “They routinely waste taxpayers’ money on vanity projects — or on non-devolved areas like their pointless overseas embassies and Ugandan tree planting.”

Mr Kurtz said the reduced funding would harm Welsh businesses already under pressure from what he called “higher taxes imposed by Labour Governments at both ends of the M4.”

Impact and unanswered questions

Local authorities and development agencies are now assessing how the lower funding total will affect projects. Key questions remain over how much will be allocated to capital works — such as roads, broadband and premises — versus revenue funding for skills and business support.

There is also uncertainty over how funds will be distributed across regions and whether inflation and rising public-service costs will further erode the real value of the grant.

With Labour holding only 29 of 60 Senedd seats, ministers will need opposition support to pass next year’s budget — making the Local Growth Fund a likely flashpoint in the coming financial debates.

Long-term tensions over regional funding

The dispute highlights long-running tensions about how regional development money is shared across the UK.

Under the EU’s structural funds, Wales received billions in direct investment via Brussels. The Shared Prosperity Fund was meant to replicate that model domestically, but the shift to a “Local Growth Fund” marks a move towards centralised, outcome-based competition.

Critics warn the new system could disadvantage smaller or rural areas, particularly given delays and underspending in earlier “Levelling Up” schemes. With Wales’ economy heavily reliant on infrastructure investment, many warn that even modest cuts could have outsized effects.

Some Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour backbenchers have already called for full devolution of replacement-fund control, arguing that decisions about Welsh priorities should rest entirely in Wales.

What happens next

The Welsh Government says it will launch a public consultation later this month to shape how the Local Growth Fund is spent. Local authorities, businesses and community groups will be invited to submit proposals for regional investment.

As the Senedd begins its 2026-27 budget process, attention will focus on whether the smaller funding pot can sustain existing projects — or whether Wales will face another round of spending squeezes.

For now, the £38 million reduction has ignited a wider debate over who really controls Wales’s economic destiny — and whether devolution of the purse strings will empower communities or simply shift the blame for austerity closer to home.

Farming

Basic Payment Scheme 2025 balance paid to 95% of Welsh farmers

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Final year of BPS as transition to Sustainable Farming Scheme begins

The WELSH Government says more than ninety-five per cent of farm businesses have now received their full or balance payment under the final year of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), ahead of the introduction of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) in 2026.

Announcing the update on Friday (Dec 12), Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, confirmed that over 15,400 Welsh farm businesses have been paid £68.7m. This comes on top of the £160m issued in BPS advance payments since 14 October.

Final round of BPS payments

The Basic Payment Scheme, which has been the backbone of farm support in Wales for a decade, provides direct income support to help farmers plan and manage their businesses. BPS 2025 marks the last year in which full BPS payments will be made before the scheme begins to be phased out.

The Cabinet Secretary said officials would “continue to process the outstanding BPS 2025 claims as soon as possible,” adding that all but the most complex cases should be completed by 30 June 2026.

Payments issued today represent the main balance due to farmers following earlier advances, giving many businesses the cash flow they need during the quieter winter period—traditionally a challenging time in the agricultural calendar.

Shift to Sustainable Farming Scheme in 2026

From 1 January 2026, the Welsh Government will begin rolling out the Sustainable Farming Scheme, a major reform to how agricultural support is delivered. The SFS will reward farmers for environmental outcomes such as habitat management, carbon reduction and biodiversity improvements, alongside continued food production.

The government has argued that the new scheme is essential to meeting Wales’ climate and nature targets while ensuring long-term resilience in the sector. However, the transition has been closely watched by farming unions, who have raised concerns about the administrative burden, income stability, and the speed at which BPS is being phased out.

Mr Irranca-Davies reaffirmed the government’s stance, saying: “This government is steadfastly committed to supporting Welsh farmers to sustainably produce quality food. This is demonstrated today in our payment of the BPS 2025 balance payments and will continue throughout the transition period.”

Sector reaction

Farming unions are expected to scrutinise the detail of today’s announcement, particularly around remaining unpaid cases. Last year, late payments led to frustration in parts of the sector, with unions calling for greater certainty as the industry faces rising input costs, supply chain pressures and continued market volatility.

The move to the SFS remains one of the most significant agricultural policy changes in Wales since devolution. Ministers insist the shift is designed to support both food production and environmental stewardship, while critics warn the transition must not undermine farm viability—especially for family-run livestock farms that dominate rural areas such as Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

What happens next

Farmers still awaiting their BPS 2025 balance will continue to be processed “as soon as possible”, the Welsh Government said. Officials will also publish updated guidance on the Sustainable Farming Scheme ahead of its launch.

The coming year will therefore become a pivotal moment for Welsh agriculture, as the long-standing BPS framework—which provided over £200m annually to Welsh farmers—makes way for a new results-based model that will shape the industry for decades to come.

News

Improved train timetable launches across Wales

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Extra services, later trains and boosted Sunday routes as £800m rail investment takes effect

An improved train timetable has come into force across Wales today (Sunday, 14 December), with Transport for Wales (TfW) introducing more frequent services, stronger connections and additional late-night trains on key routes.

The winter timetable update brings one of the most substantial uplifts in recent years on the Wales and Borders network, forming part of the Welsh Government’s ongoing £800 million investment in brand-new rolling stock and reliability improvements.

More trains and later journeys

Among the upgrades, passengers will see:

A new hourly additional service between Chester and Wrexham, effectively doubling the frequency on one of the region’s busiest commuter corridors.
An extra train in each direction every day on the Heart of Wales line between Swansea and Shrewsbury.
Three later last trains from Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil, supporting shift workers and the night-time economy.
A new hourly Sunday service on the Coryton line in Cardiff.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said improved connectivity was “absolutely vital” for economic growth and passenger confidence.

“These changes will make a real difference to customers, who will benefit from more services and greater connectivity,” he said. “This has been made possible by our £800m investment in brand-new trains for the Wales and Borders network.

“We will see the doubling of trains between Wrexham and Chester and a later service from the capital to valley communities. In South Wales, people will continue to benefit from simpler, fairer fares through TfW’s Pay As You Go service, and its forthcoming introduction in North Wales will help even more passengers access easy, transparent pricing.”

Full details of the updated timetable are available at: tfw.wales/service-status/timetables

News

Wrecked guard boat still under watch off north Pembrokeshire coast

Published

2 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Tidal changes monitored after dramatic early-morning rescue

A GUARD VESSEL that ran aground off the north Pembrokeshire coast in the early hours of Thursday morning (Dec 11) remains under close observation as tides continue to shift.

The Resolute, a 24-metre guard boat understood to be working for an offshore wind project off the Irish coast, had been sheltering in worsening weather when she was pushed onto rocks near Aber Hywel, Dinas, shortly after 3:25am.

Four crew members were onboard when the vessel grounded in rough seas and a strong southerly wind.

Major rescue effort launched

The crew issued an emergency alert, prompting a full multi-agency response.
A coastguard rescue helicopter, both Fishguard RNLI lifeboats, and coastguard teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene.

Turbulent air made a winch rescue impossible and Fishguard’s all-weather lifeboat was unable to get close due to cliffs and submerged hazards. The inshore lifeboat was instead deployed to attempt a transfer in extremely challenging conditions.

During the evacuation, the third crew member descending to the vessel’s life raft slipped, fell into the water and was swept away. Speaking afterwards, RNLI crew member Cedwyn Rogers said the team immediately switched into “hyper-focused” mode as training took over.

Despite the casualty drifting, helm Warren Bean — a volunteer with more than 30 years’ RNLI experience — manoeuvred the lifeboat alongside, allowing crew to haul the man to safety. The remaining crew member was then retrieved, and all four were taken aboard the all-weather lifeboat and brought ashore to Fishguard.

All rescue units were later stood down.

Vessel still stranded and taking on water

The Herald understands that the Resolute remained aground on the rocks yesterday and was taking on water. The crew were later assisted back onboard by a local fisherman to assess damage on behalf of the vessel’s operators.

Management representatives from Ireland were due to arrive to draw up a recovery plan, including arrangements to remove fuel to prevent any potential environmental impact.

Further inspections have been taking place today as the team evaluates the next steps.

Coastguard statement

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “At 3.28am on Thursday morning, HM Coastguard was made aware of a vessel with four persons onboard aground on rocks at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. RNLI lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams from Fishguard and St Davids were sent to the scene. The four people aboard were rescued by lifeboat, and the helicopter was stood down. The vessel, which is still aground, is being monitored as tidal conditions change.”