News

Welsh Lib Dems call for tax on big banks to fund ‘fair deal for Wales’

Published

2 months ago

November 22, 2025

Party says emergency support for households and high streets must be prioritised as pressure grows on Welsh economy

THE WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have outlined their priorities ahead of next week’s UK Budget, calling for what they describe as a “fairer settlement” for Wales funded through higher taxation on major banks, multinational tech firms, online gambling operators and oil and gas producers.

Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said the focus must be on delivering practical support for households and small businesses, warning that many Welsh communities continue to feel the effects of stubborn inflation, high energy costs and low investment.

Emergency package for households and hospitality

The Party is proposing a 17-month “Households and High Streets” package designed to cut energy bills and support local pubs, cafés and restaurants. Under the plan, an energy levy would be removed from bills and VAT for hospitality would be reduced, which the Lib Dems claim would put around £270 back into the pocket of a typical household.

Hospitality and tourism account for roughly 12% of Wales’ economy, and industry groups have warned throughout 2024–25 that rising costs and weaker demand have pushed many businesses close to the edge. The Welsh Liberal Democrats argue that a temporary VAT cut would provide immediate relief and protect jobs, particularly in rural and coastal areas where local pubs and cafés form part of the economic backbone.

The package would, the Party says, be paid for through a time-limited windfall tax on the big banks—a sector that has reported significant profits over the past two years as interest rates have remained high.

Support for rural Wales and energy investment

Other measures the Party is calling for include:

• Scrapping the so-called Family Farms Tax, amid concerns that proposed UK-wide changes to Agricultural Property Relief could disproportionately impact Welsh family farms already facing volatility in the supply chain and sharply rising costs.
• Investment in large-scale hydro and tidal power, including long-discussed projects such as the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. Several governments have promised progress on tidal schemes over the last decade, but none have yet been delivered. The Lib Dems say a firm commitment could create skilled jobs and help secure Wales’ renewable energy future.
• Reform of the Barnett Formula, devolution of the Crown Estate in Wales and delivery of long-promised HS2 consequentials—issues that have been the subject of cross-party debate for years, with the Senedd and Welsh Government maintaining that Wales has been underfunded relative to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• Fair access to pensions for around 4,000 Welsh miners in the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (BCSSS).
• Scrapping the two-child benefit cap, which anti-poverty organisations say has contributed to rising levels of child poverty in several parts of Wales.
• Greater funding for social care, an area under severe pressure in all Welsh local authorities, including Pembrokeshire.

How the plans would be funded

To pay for the package, the Welsh Liberal Democrats want the Chancellor to:

• Reverse the Conservatives’ recent tax cuts for major banks.
• Increase the Digital Services Tax paid by large multinational tech corporations.
• Strengthen the windfall tax on excess oil and gas profits.
• Raise Remote Gaming Duty on the largest online gambling operators, whose profits have grown during the cost-of-living crisis.

Chadwick: “Time for the Government to show Wales matters”

David Chadwick MP said: “This Labour Government has presided over a series of decisions that have harmed Welsh communities. This Budget is an opportunity for them to change course and finally show that Wales matters.

“The Liberal Democrats have been clear and consistent in calling for those with the broadest shoulders to pay their fair share. The Chancellor should be taxing big banks, tech giants and oil companies fairly, instead of placing the burden on working people. That revenue must be used to support the communities that need it most.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to ensure the voices of Welsh communities are heard in the halls of Westminster.”

Crime

Two arrested after high-value shoplifting incident in Kilgetty

Published

37 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting following a rapid police response to a reported high-value theft at a supermarket in Kilgetty.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were called to the Co-op store at around 3.35pm on Wednesday (Jan 28), after a report that a large quantity of alcohol and other items had been stolen.

Using information provided by the caller, Roads Policing Unit officers worked closely with control room staff to identify a vehicle believed to be involved. Several patrol cars were deployed, and the vehicle was located a short time later travelling east.

Police said the safety of all those involved was treated as a priority, with specialist Tactical Pursuit and Containment (TPAC) advice obtained while officers maintained constant observation of the vehicle.

The car was brought to a safe stop on a back road approaching Hendy, involving three Roads Policing Unit vehicles. No injuries or damage were reported.

Following roadside checks, two men — aged 67 and 46 — were arrested on suspicion of theft from a shop.

Both remain in police custody while enquiries continue.

Police said the swift response helped prevent further offending and demonstrated the effectiveness of specialist roads policing officers acting on real-time intelligence.

Climate

Breaking down barriers between finance and industry in offshore renewables sector

Published

48 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

EARLIER this week, Marine Energy Wales brought together senior representatives from national and devolved finance institutions with developers, ports and supply-chain companies operating across Wales’ offshore renewable energy sector for a dedicated finance roundtable in Pembroke Dock. Attendance was limited to premium MEW members to allow for frank, focused discussion.

The session was intentionally designed to be different.

Rather than relying on formal presentations or sales pitches, the roundtable created a facilitated, closed-door space for open dialogue. Finance organisations were able to explain clearly how they operate, what types of projects they can support, and where constraints still exist. Industry participants, in turn, set out the real-world challenges they are facing across tidal energy, floating offshore wind, port infrastructure and supply-chain development.

What emerged was more than information sharing—it was a clearer, shared understanding of how decisions are made on both sides.

From siloed conversations to shared problem-solving

A consistent theme from the discussion was that significant public and institutional finance is now available to support clean energy projects. However, navigating that landscape remains complex, particularly for early-stage developments, smaller supply-chain businesses and emerging technologies.

By bringing the right people into the room at the same time, the roundtable helped to:

demystify how different finance bodies assess risk, scale and project readiness
highlight where policy ambition, market signals and investment criteria are not yet aligned
identify opportunities where better sequencing and coordination of funding could unlock progress
establish direct relationships that will support follow-up conversations beyond the room

The discussion also surfaced where gaps remain. In particular, the need for clearer market signals and more tailored support for tidal stream and other early-stage marine technologies was repeatedly raised. These are challenges that are difficult to address in isolation, but far more productive to tackle collectively.

The value of convening

For Marine Energy Wales, the roundtable reinforced the importance of our role as a neutral convener for the sector.

Members consistently tell us that access to finance is one of the most significant barriers to progress—not only in terms of capital availability, but in understanding how to engage effectively with funders. At the same time, finance organisations are keen to deepen their understanding of project development timelines, technology risk and the scale of Welsh supply-chain ambition.

Creating space for those conversations is where real value is added.

This is not about Marine Energy Wales brokering individual deals. It is about building shared understanding, reducing friction, and helping to align finance, policy and industry around credible pathways to delivery.

What comes next

This roundtable was not a one-off.

Marine Energy Wales is committed to continuing this work, developing structured and trusted forums where finance, industry and government can engage early, openly and constructively. As Wales moves from ambition to delivery in offshore wind and tidal energy, these relationships and conversations will be critical to ensuring projects are investable, deliverable and anchored in Welsh economic benefit.

We will continue to work with our members and partners to identify priority issues, convene the right voices, and help turn opportunity into tangible outcomes on the ground.

Business

Eight-year prison sentence after vehicle stop uncovers drugs worth over £150,000

Published

2 hours ago

January 29, 2026

Court Reporter

A ROUTINE vehicle stop by roads policing officers has led to an eight-year prison sentence after more than £150,000 worth of illegal drugs were discovered in a car in Pembrokeshire.

On Friday, January 2, officers from the Roads Policing Unit stopped a grey Seat Ateca on Hoyland Road, Pembroke. The vehicle was being driven by 43-year-old Dean Evans.

During the stop, Evans told officers they would find “stuff” in the car. He and the vehicle were subsequently searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A search of the boot uncovered a cardboard box containing a one-kilogram block of cocaine and ten half-kilogram packages of herbal cannabis. The street value of the drugs was estimated to be well in excess of £150,000.

Evans was arrested at the scene on suspicion of possession with intent to supply controlled drugs. He was later charged with possession with intent to supply Class A and Class B drugs.

The 43-year-old pleaded guilty at Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 3.

On Thursday, January 28, Evans was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to eight years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

DC Jones, from Dyfed-Powys Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said: “Tackling the supply of illegal drugs is a priority for Dyfed-Powys Police, and the misery that illegal drugs bring to local communities will not be tolerated.

“We welcome the sentence passed to Dean Evans, given the large quantity of harmful drugs he was caught trafficking into Pembrokeshire.

“This sentence should serve as a stark warning to anyone tempted to become involved in the illegal drugs trade in Dyfed and Powys.”