Lib Dems accuse UK Government of “deliberately depriving Welsh communities”, but Labour insists investment plans remain fair

WALES is set to lose out on more than £1 billion in transport funding over the coming years after the Welsh Liberal Democrats highlighted that the UK Labour Government has confirmed Northern Powerhouse Rail will proceed as an “England and Wales” project – despite the scheme not touching a single centimetre of Welsh soil.

Northern Powerhouse Rail – sometimes described informally as High Speed 3 – aims to improve rail connections between Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and other major cities across northern England. But by designating it as an “England and Wales” scheme, the Treasury avoids triggering Barnett consequentials that would otherwise flow to the Welsh Government.

Sixth-billion shortfall

According to figures released by the Lib Dems, the decision could deprive Wales of between £1.34bn and £1.59bn over the project’s lifetime. This is in addition to the estimated £4bn in lost funding when HS2 was similarly classified, and a further £306m–£363m linked to East–West Rail between Oxford and Cambridge.

In total, Wales could be missing out on around £6bn across the three projects.

By contrast, Scotland is expected to receive £2.7bn in consequentials from Northern Powerhouse Rail, while Northern Ireland is set to receive just under £1bn.

Lib Dem criticism of Labour stance

The Welsh Liberal Democrats say the figures undermine Labour’s claim that Wales is receiving fair transport funding. Labour has pledged £445m for rail in Wales over ten years – an amount the Lib Dems described as “an absolute joke” when set against the billions flowing elsewhere.

The party has again called for heavy rail to be devolved to Wales, as it is in Scotland and Northern Ireland, arguing this would prevent future funding disputes. They also point out that the UK Government could choose to classify such schemes as “England only” – as was done with Crossrail – which would automatically provide Wales with consequential funding.

Welsh rail projects still awaiting decisions

Critics also note that several Wales-specific rail improvements, including electrification of the North and South Wales Mainlines, have not yet been committed to by Labour, despite being previously supported while in opposition.

‘Wales left behind’ – Chadwick

Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: “This Labour Government is deliberately depriving Welsh communities of billions of pounds in transport funding, whilst expecting a pat on the back for delivering crumbs.

“Labour has the power to change the system and stop these funding scandals, but has made its position clear – they are happy for Wales to be left behind, paying for megaprojects in England whilst our own rail and transport infrastructure collapses.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for fair transport funding that delivers for our communities and businesses.”

Labour response

A UK Labour Government spokesperson has previously said that its investment plans will deliver “a fair and balanced package for every part of the UK”, and that decisions on rail funding are being taken “in line with long-standing Treasury processes”. The Government maintains that its £445m investment commitment demonstrates its intent to improve Wales’s rail network.

The Welsh Government has also been approached for further comment.

Union calls for National Care Service as survey highlights public backing

UNISON CYMRU has said there is “overwhelming support” for removing profit from social care in Wales, following the publication of a TUC Cymru survey indicating strong public backing for services delivered directly by the public sector.

The survey, published on Thursday (Dec 4), asked respondents whether they believed social care should be publicly run and non-profit. According to the trade union body, the majority were in favour of ending the current mixed-model system, where many services are commissioned from private providers.

Mark Turner, UNISON Cymru’s head of social care, said care workers across Wales were “stretched to breaking point” as they support older and disabled people every day.

“Families see the strain too, with services struggling to provide all the help that’s needed,” Mr Turner said. “Removing profit from social care would make a big difference. It would mean more money is focused on consistent, high-quality support for every community and better pay and conditions for staff, rather than dividends for investors.

“There’s clearly a huge public appetite for change. The next Welsh government must seize this moment, build a National Care Service and deliver the fair, reliable system people in Wales have deserved for far too long.”

Background and wider debate

Calls for a National Care Service have been raised repeatedly in Wales in recent years, with campaigners arguing that the current system is fragmented and places too much financial burden on families.

However, private and independent care providers have previously warned that removing profit entirely from the sector could lead to instability, home closures, and reduced capacity, as many services rely on private investment to remain viable.

They argue that local authorities – already facing budget pressures – may struggle to deliver all care in-house without significant long-term funding from the Welsh Government.

Several organisations in the sector have also pointed out that profit levels vary widely and that many small and medium-sized providers do not generate large profits, instead reinvesting income to cover rising staffing and operational costs.

Welsh Government position

The Welsh Government has committed in principle to exploring a “National Care Service for Wales,” but has acknowledged that any major restructuring would require “substantial and sustained funding” over multiple parliamentary terms.

A spokesperson has previously said ministers are reviewing the evidence from trade unions, councils, providers and service users as part of ongoing reform discussions.

A DOCTOR who facilitated abortions for two women with much-wanted pregnancies was not allowed to prescribe a £28 anti-sickness drug due to cost-effectiveness rules in Wales.

The stark warning came as petitioners called on the Welsh Government to place Xonvea, the only licensed medication for severe pregnancy sickness, on the routine prescription list.

Georgina Forbes, a specialist doctor in Gwent, revealed she facilitated terminations for two women who were suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) in a single week. HG, which affects about 3% of pregnancies, leads to extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting.

“Both pregnancies were very much planned and wanted,” she wrote. “Both had multiple admissions and were on other medical treatments which were not giving adequate relief.

“For the sake of their physical and mental health, they felt their only option was to terminate their much-wanted pregnancies – inevitably having a further impact on their well-being.”

She warned of distress for the patients and staff involved because Xonvea “may well be the medication that provides symptomatic relief but departments are not allowed to prescribe it”.

Dr Forbes, chair of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare’s Wales committee, noted Xonvea costs £28 for a 10-day supply – “far less than the cost of admission”. She urged Welsh ministers to ensure women are not “left behind compared to other UK nations”.

In 2019, the drug was rejected for routine use by the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) – which advises ministers – due to “insufficient” evidence of cost-effectiveness. Scotland reached a similar conclusion while access in England is inconsistent.

But campaigners argue the decision is a false economy. Data submitted to the Senedd’s petitions committee highlighted a two-night hospital admission to rehydrate a woman with severe sickness costs the NHS £850, with ambulance call-outs costing a further £238.

Petitioner Sarah Spooner, from Monmouthshire, argued the “myopic approach” ignores the costs of untreated sickness such as perinatal mental health support.

Ms Spooner, whose pregnancy sickness was so severe she had to have a termination, warned of inequality in access to treatments. She recalled having to travel to an abortion clinic in Bargoed to get medication, a process she described as “immensely difficult”.

While the Welsh Government has insisted health boards have discretion to prescribe the drug “when other treatments… are ineffective”, staff and patients report a different reality.

Ms Spooner’s 947-name petition warned women face a “postcode lottery” for care, with only two Welsh health boards making Xonvea more widely available.

She was contacted by Heather Kosick, a Canadian doctor, who was horrified by her story.

Dr Kosick wrote: “Here in Canada Xonvea, also called Diclectin, is readily available to all pregnant women. In fact, it is considered the first-line agent for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy due to its extensive safety data.”

Ms Spooner volunteers for the Pregnancy Sickness Support charity which pointed out that Xonvea has been prescribed globally for years, with an estimated 30 million women treated.

The charity highlighted that 57% of patients are forced to cycle through three or more ineffective drugs before being offered Xonvea, which 83% of women found effective.

One patient reported being hospitalised seven times during a pregnancy without Xonvea but zero admissions during a subsequent pregnancy when she was prescribed the drug.

About 5% of women with HG end a wanted pregnancy due to the severity of symptoms, according to a 2021 study, which found 52% considered termination.

The study, from the Obstetric Medicine journal, found 25.5% of respondents occasionally experienced suicidal thoughts while 6.6% reported frequent suicidal ideation.

Writing to the petitions committee, Wales’ health secretary Jeremy Miles said the 2019 AWMSG appraisal remains the “most up-to-date and comprehensive evaluation”.

He told the committee health boards can make Xonvea available in certain circumstances, with more than 1,140 prescriptions issued between January and July 2025. He added that the manufacturer was “unable” to provide updated information to support a reappraisal.

Mr Miles wrote: “We must ensure our health service treats all conditions and diseases fairly. Taking an evidence-based approach helps us to do this, whatever the disease, by ensuring resources are targeted at where the evidence indicates people will gain the most benefit.”

During today’s (December 8) meeting, Senedd members paid tribute to women for sharing their “horrendous” experiences before deciding to ask the AWMSG to reconsider its position.

Plaid Cymru’s Caerphilly MS Lindsay Whittle said: “I don’t think you can put a price on young families, young couples who wish to start a family and have undergone such traumatic decisions.”

He stressed: “Cost should simply not be the issue – families are suffering.”