Politics

First Minister grilled about £4.8bn benefit cuts

Published

10 months ago

March 29, 2025

SENEDD Members pressed Wales’ First Minister about the Labour UK Government plans to slash spending on welfare by £4.8bn a year by the end of the decade.

Plaid Cymru’s Llŷr Gruffydd questioned Eluned Morgan about reforms announced in this week’s spring statement during a scrutiny committee meeting on March 27.

He said: “Disabled people are particularly going to be hit by this. Three million families are going to lose out financially, a quarter of a million people are going to be thrown into poverty, 50,000 of those children. Why did you support the changes?”

“Hang on, let’s be clear,” the First Minister responded. “This is a non-devolved area, so I am not accountable for what goes on in relation to the welfare situation.

“What I do know is that it would be a good thing to have more people in work in Wales, our employment is not nearly as good as some other countries.”

Baroness Morgan told the committee she was yet to receive a response to a letter she sent Liz Kendall, the UK work and pensions secretary, seeking clarity on the impact in Wales.

“I don’t think trapping people in welfare poverty is a great position either,” she said. “I think we’ve got to support people to get out of the poverty trap.”

Pressed on whether she supports the changes outlined by the UK chancellor, Baroness Morgan replied: “I’m yet to get a firm understanding of how that will impact on Wales and until I’m clear about the impacts I want to reserve my position in relation to that.”

Mr Gruffydd countered: “Well, that’s very different to what the secretary of state said because she’s on record as saying ‘the First Minister wrote supporting the reforms and I was really pleased to see backing for those reforms’. So is she wrong?”

The First Minister, who has been in post for about eight months, repeated her position, warning of “huge, unsustainable” increases in the number of people claiming benefits.

Asked about a phone call with No 10 to raise her concerns, Baroness Morgan said she could not remember who she spoke to but it was not prime minister Keir Starmer.

“You can’t even tell us who you spoke with about it?” Mr Gruffydd asked. “You’re the one who was on the phone but you’re not sure who you talked to?”

Baroness Morgan told the committee she speaks to hundreds of people every day and has “armies of people” who set up meetings, saying she would provide a list of names.

Mr Gruffydd pressed the First Minister on her claims to have influenced welfare reforms, asking precisely what she persuaded the UK Government of.

She responded: “I set out, gave them a sense of the concentration of the numbers of people who are on, in particular, sickness benefits in some of our communities.”

She added: “I’m told afterwards that that did help to inform their decision making.”

Mr Gruffydd warned the reforms will have a disproportionate impact on people, putting a huge strain on services and leaving Wales “floundering to pick up the pieces”.

Baroness Morgan reiterated that she is reserving her judgement, saying: “I just think it’s fascinating that I’m constantly asked about what’s happening in Westminster. Hold me to account for things I’m responsible for.”

Mr Gruffydd said: “But you’re the one who’s been talking about a ‘partnership in power’ between Labour in Cardiff and Labour in London.”

The First Minister pointed to £1.6bn extra for public services in the Welsh Government’s 2025/26 budget as an example of the influence on colleagues in Westminster.

The Conservatives’ Mark Isherwood warned autistic and other neurodivergent people are terrified by the announcement and the implications for their lives.

Andrew Jeffreys, director the Welsh treasury, said the only prior engagement on the reforms was a conversation finance secretary Mark Drakeford had on the morning of the statement.

Mr Gruffydd raised the Welsh Government’s written response to the spring statement, which claimed households will be £500 better off on average by 2030.

Asking how ministers arrived at the figure, he said: “Yet, the Resolution Foundation has said, because the benefits cuts fall disproportionately on lower-income households, it’ll mean an average annual loss of £500 by 2030 for those in the poorest half of the population.”

Baroness Morgan said: “I don’t think there is a contradiction there … the average family will be £500 better off. I recognise that there will be families who will be impacted.”

She reiterated: “Well, look, as I say, we’re days into knowing this situation. We still don’t have a clear picture of how it’s going to impact on us.”

News

Kurtz calls on Labour MPs to back release of Mandelson papers

Published

3 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Staff Writer

Opposition motion follows Epstein-linked document disclosures

A SENEDD Member has called on Labour MPs to support a Conservative Opposition Day Motion demanding the release of papers linked to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK Ambassador to the United States.

Samuel Kurtz said the motion follows the publication of new files and photographs involving Lord Mandelson, which were released as part of a United States investigation into the disgraced and convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking out, Mr Kurtz said that during Prime Minister’s Questions, the Prime Minister admitted he was aware of Peter Mandelson’s ongoing relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment.

“That means the Prime Minister knowingly appointed Peter Mandelson to one of the most important diplomatic roles in government despite his links to Epstein,” he said. “This raises serious questions about the Prime Minister’s judgement.”

Mr Kurtz went on to accuse the Prime Minister of attempting to prevent transparency over the appointment process.

“Now, instead of being open and transparent, the Prime Minister is attempting to block the release of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment in order to protect his own position,” he said.

He warned that Labour MPs who oppose the motion would share responsibility for withholding information, adding: “If Labour MPs support blocking the release of these papers, they will be complicit in covering up the process and judgement that led the Prime Minister to appoint Peter Mandelson as Ambassador, despite his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.”

News

Welsh peace campaigner removed from court during Palestine protest case

Published

4 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Concerns raised over use of terrorism laws against silent sign-holders as Welsh activist among those ejected from London hearings

A WELSH peace campaigner was among several protesters removed from court by security staff this week as plea hearings continued for people charged under terrorism legislation for holding pro-Palestine signs.

Angie Zelter, aged 74, from Knucklas, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Monday as part of mass proceedings linked to the Government’s ban on Palestine Action.

Campaigners say hundreds of people across the UK – including some in Wales – have been charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 after quietly holding handwritten signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

Zelter, a long-time anti-war activist and founder of Trident Ploughshares, attempted to read a prepared statement criticising the prosecutions before being escorted from the courtroom, according to supporters.

She told the court she did not accept being labelled a terrorist for what she described as peaceful protest and opposition to the war in Gaza.

Outside the building, fellow campaigners said she had sought to argue that international law and freedom of expression should protect non-violent dissent.

Also removed from the hearing was Tim Crosland, co-founder of Defend Our Juries, who said he had tried to raise legal objections to the charges before being asked to leave.

Arrests nationwide

Organisers of the “Lift The Ban” campaign claim nearly 3,000 people have been arrested across Britain since late 2025 for taking part in silent vigils, with several hundred now facing prosecution. The offences carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

The group argues the legislation is being used to criminalise peaceful protest. It is calling on the Government to lift the ban on Palestine Action and to change its stance on military cooperation with Israel.

However, ministers have defended the proscription, saying the organisation has been linked to criminal damage and disruption at sites connected to defence manufacturing.

Welsh perspective

While most hearings are taking place in London, campaigners say demonstrators in Wales have also taken part in sign-holding protests.

Civil liberties advocates have warned that applying terrorism laws to non-violent protest risks setting a troubling precedent.

For many in mid Wales, the sight of a pensioner from rural Powys being removed from a courtroom has sharpened debate over where the line lies between legitimate protest and criminality.

Further hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks, with more defendants from across the UK expected to appear.

Business

Bid to convert office space into chocolate factory, salon and laundrette

Published

11 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for the retrospective conversion of office space previously connected to a Pembrokeshire car hire business to a chocolate factory, a beauty salon and a laundrette has been submitted to county planners

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr M Williams, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought retrospective permission for the subdivision of an office on land off Scotchwell Cottage, Cartlett, Haverfordwest into three units forming a chocolate manufacturing, a beauty salon, and a launderette, along with associated works.

A supporting statement said planning history at the site saw a 2018 application for the refurbishment of an existing office building and a change of use from oil depot offices to a hire car office and car/van storage yard, approved back in 2019.

For the chocolate manufacturing by ‘Pembrokeshire Chocolate company,’ as part of the latest scheme it said: “The operation comprises of manufacturing of handmade bespoke flavoured chocolate bars. Historically there was an element of counter sales but this has now ceased. The business sales comprise of online orders and the delivery of produce to local stockist. There are no counter sales from the premises.”

It said the beauty salon “offers treatments, nail services and hairdressing,” operating “on an appointment only basis, with the hairdresser element also offering a mobile service”. It said the third unit of the building functions as a commercial laundrette and ironing services known as ‘West Coast Laundry,’ which “predominantly provides services to holiday cottages, hotels and care homes”.

The statement added: “Beyond the unchanged access the site has parking provision for at least 12 vehicles and a turning area. The building now forms three units which employ two persons per unit. The 12 parking spaces, therefore, provide sufficient provision for staff.

“In terms of visiting members of the public the beauty salon operates on an appointment only basis and based on its small scale can only accommodate two customers at any one time. Therefore, ample parking provision exists to visitors.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing and commercial laundrette service these enterprises do not attract visitors but do attract the dropping off laundry and delivery of associated inputs. Drop off and collections associated with the laundry services tend to fall in line with holiday accommodation changeover days, for example Tuesday drop off and collections on the Thursday.

“With regard to the chocolate manufacturing ingredients are delivered by couriers and movements associated with this is also estimated at 10 vehicular movements per week.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.