Charity says Welsh voters care deeply about animals as parties outline policies ahead of Senedd election

THE RSPCA has responded to the launch of Reform UK Wales’ manifesto for the 2026 Senedd election, welcoming some proposals while urging politicians to base animal welfare policies on scientific evidence.

The charity said Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers of any UK nation and warned that voters will be closely watching political parties’ commitments to protecting animals.

Billie-Jade Thomas, Senior Public Affairs Manager for RSPCA Cymru, said that proposals to introduce clearer food labelling could help consumers better understand how animal products are produced.

“Wales’ consumers deserve more information about where the food they eat comes from and how it has been produced,” she said.

“Moves to introduce mandatory labelling, including for slaughter methods, are a positive step forward for consumer knowledge and could give the public more information about how any animal products on their plates were made.”

However, the RSPCA cautioned that policies relating to bovine tuberculosis must be based on evidence rather than focusing on wildlife culling.

“Taking an evidence-led approach to tackling bovine TB is always to be welcomed,” Thomas said.

“But the evidence indicates that the Welsh Government needs to combat this devastating disease by focusing on cattle-based measures, and not killing badgers unnecessarily.”

The issue of bovine TB and badger culling has long been controversial in Wales, with farmers, wildlife groups and politicians divided over how best to control the disease.

The RSPCA said the forthcoming report from the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group for Wales would provide additional evidence to guide the next Welsh Government.

The charity also warned that any reform of environmental regulation must not weaken wildlife protections.

“Reviewing legislation and regulation is an opportunity to ensure it is as effective as possible,” Thomas said.

“But any changes to general licences must not be a back door to weakening protections for many of our species in Wales.”

Looking ahead to the election campaign, the organisation said animal welfare should be a key issue for voters and politicians alike.

“According to our Animal Kindness Index, Wales has the highest proportion of animal lovers of any UK nation,” Thomas added.

“Voters will be eager to hear political parties’ plans for animals of every kind.”

The RSPCA has published its own manifesto ahead of the election, calling for measures including recognising animal sentience in Welsh law, making pet abduction a specific criminal offence and introducing stronger regulation of animal sanctuaries and rehoming centres.

The charity is also calling for improvements in farm animal welfare, including a ban on the caging of farm animals and incentives for farmers who adopt higher welfare standards.

With the Senedd election scheduled for May 2026, campaign groups say animal welfare policies are likely to form part of the debate as parties seek to win over voters across Wales.

Launch comes as one in four students in Wales declares a disability

A NEW public-sector backed organisation has been launched with the aim of improving access to vital support for disabled students in Wales.

The initiative comes as figures show that one in four students in Wales now declares a known disability, highlighting growing pressure on universities and support services.

Since 2020, the number of students in Wales reporting a disability has risen by 26 per cent, creating what campaigners describe as a widening accessibility gap within higher education.

The situation reflects a broader challenge across the UK. Research suggests nearly two thirds of students with disabilities have not benefited from adjustment support because the process of securing help can be difficult. Meanwhile, 42 per cent of students with a declared disability say delays in accessing support have negatively affected their studies.

To address the problem, Impact Student Partners has launched a partnership-based approach designed to improve the delivery of Non-Medical Help (NMH) — the specialist human support provided to enable disabled students to access their studies.

The organisation will work with universities, support workers and students to provide a more personalised approach to matching support staff with those who need assistance. The model also includes improved communication with students and job-seeking support for graduates.

Charlie Bentham-Wood, founder of Impact Student Partners, said the increase in disability declarations reflected growing demand for better support systems within universities.

“This steady rise in Wales, where a quarter of students now declare a disability, highlights the challenges many students face,” he said.

“Research shows students often encounter barriers when trying to access reasonable adjustments at university. Demand has also increased significantly for Disabled Students Allowance-funded support through Student Finance Wales, particularly for students experiencing mental health conditions.

“Our role is to help ensure students in Wales receive the support they need and reduce the barriers they may face during their studies.”

Impact Student Partners is owned by Commercial Services Group, a council-owned organisation which returns its surplus profits to the public sector.

Students eligible for Non-Medical Help include those with conditions such as dyslexia, diagnosed neurodivergence and traumatic brain injuries. Support can include specialist tutoring, mentoring and learning assistance tailored to individual needs, including autism and neurodiversity-informed approaches.

One of the major obstacles facing students is a lack of awareness about the support available, both among students themselves and within universities.

Bentham-Wood said many students currently rely on informal support networks because accessing official help can be difficult.

“We know that a large number of students depend on informal support services, partly because sourcing Non-Medical Help can be challenging,” he said.

“Our mission is to make sure everyone who could benefit from this assistance knows it exists and understands how straightforward it can be to access.”

He added that the organisation has developed a growing network of trained professionals across Wales and the wider UK and plans to expand further as demand increases.

“We believe everyone has enormous potential. Through our partnership approach we want to create opportunities that help students thrive.”

More information about Impact Student Partners is available at:
https://commercialservicesgroup.com/ or by contacting [email protected].

Alleged incident in Ammanford

A MOTORIST accused of dangerous driving has been sent to the Crown Court following a hearing at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Kyle Morgan, aged 27, of Heol Y Meinciau, Pontyates, appeared before magistrates on Thursday (Mar 5) charged with driving dangerously.

The court heard that the alleged offence took place on February 14 this year on Dyffryn Road, Ammanford.

Prosecutors allege that Morgan drove a motor vehicle in a manner that fell far below the standard expected of a competent and careful driver, and that it would have been obvious to a competent driver that driving in that way was dangerous.

Dangerous driving is one of the most serious road traffic offences and carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine and a mandatory driving disqualification.

Magistrates were told that because of the seriousness of the allegation the case should be dealt with by the Crown Court.

Morgan was therefore sent to Swansea Crown Court where the case will proceed.

He was granted bail ahead of his next court appearance.