News

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

Published

2 weeks 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.”

News

BBC apologises to Herald’s editor for inaccurate story

Published

57 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Staff Writer

THE BBC has issued a formal apology and amended a six-year-old article written by BBC Wales Business Correspondent Huw Thomas after its Executive Complaints Unit ruled that the original headline and wording gave an “incorrect impression” that Herald editor Tom Sinclair was personally liable for tens of thousands of pounds in debt.

The 2019 report, originally headlined “Herald newspaper editor Tom Sinclair has £70,000 debts”, has now been changed.

The ECU found: “The wording of the article and its headline could have led readers to form the incorrect impression that the debt was Mr Sinclair’s personal responsibility… In that respect the article failed to meet the BBC’s standards of due accuracy.”

Mr Sinclair said: “I’m grateful to the ECU for the apology and for correcting the personal-liability impression that caused real harm for six years. However, the article still links the debts to ‘the group which publishes The Herald’ when in fact they related to printing companies that were dissolved two years before the Herald was founded in 2013. I have asked the BBC to add that final clarification so the record is completely accurate.”

A formal apology and correction of this kind from the BBC is extremely rare, especially for a story more than six years old.

Business

First wind turbine components arrive as LNG project moves ahead

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE FIRST ship carrying major components for Dragon LNG’s new onshore wind turbines
docked at Pembroke Port yesterday afternoon last week, marking the start of physical
deliveries for the multi-million-pound renewable energy project.

The Maltese-registered general cargo vessel Peak Bergen berthed at Pembroke Dock on
shortly after 4pm on Wednesday 26th November, bringing tower sections and other heavy
components for the three Enercon turbines that will eventually stand on land adjacent to the
existing gas terminal at Waterston.

A second vessel, the Irish-flagged Wilson Flex IV, has arrived in Pembroke Port today is
due to arrive in the early hours of this morning (Thursday) carrying the giant rotor blades.
The deliveries follow a successful trial convoy on 25 November, when police-escorted low-
loader trailers carried dummy loads along the planned route from the port through
Pembroke, past Waterloo roundabout and up the A477 to the Dragon LNG site.

Dragon LNG’s Community and Social Performance Officer, Lynette Round, confirmed the
latest movements in emails to the Herald.

“The Peak Bergen arrived last week yesterday with the first components,” she said. “We are
expecting another delivery tomorrow (Thursday) onboard the Wilson Flex IV. This will be
blades and is currently showing an ETA of approximately 03:30.”

The £14.3 million project, approved by Welsh Ministers last year, will see three turbines with
a combined capacity of up to 13.5 MW erected on company-owned land next to the LNG
terminal. Once operational – expected in late 2026 – they will generate enough electricity to
power the entire site, significantly reducing its carbon footprint.

Port of Milford Haven shipping movements showed the Peak Bergen approaching the Haven
throughout Wednesday morning before finally tying up at the cargo berth in Pembroke Dock.

Cranes began unloading operations yesterday evening.

The Weather conditions are currently were favourable for this morning’s the arrival of
the Wilson Flex IV, which was tracking south of the Smalls at midnight.

The abnormal-load convoys carrying the components from the port to Waterston are
expected to begin early next year, subject to final police and highway approvals.

A community benefit fund linked to the project will provide training opportunities and energy-
bill support for residents in nearby Waterston, Llanstadwell and Neyland.
Further updates will be issued by Dragon LNG as the Port of Milford Haven as the delivery
programme continues.

Photo: Martin Cavaney

Crime

Banned for 40 months after driving with cocaine breakdown product in blood

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has been handed a lengthy driving ban after admitting driving with a controlled drug in her system more than ten times over the legal limit.

SENTENCED AT HAVERFORDWEST

Sally Allen, 43, of Wentworth Close, Hubberston, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Dec 4) for sentencing, having pleaded guilty on November 25 to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that Allen was stopped on August 25 on the Old Hakin Road at Tiers Cross while driving an Audi A3. Blood analysis showed 509µg/l of Benzoylecgonine, a breakdown product of cocaine. The legal limit is 50µg/l.

COMMUNITY ORDER AND REHABILITATION

Magistrates imposed a 40-month driving ban, backdated to her interim disqualification which began on November 25.

Allen was also handed a 12-month community order, requiring her to complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities as directed by the Probation Service.

She was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 surcharge. Her financial penalties will be paid in £25 monthly instalments from January 1, 2026.

The bench—Mrs H Roberts, Mr M Shankland and Mrs J Morris—said her guilty plea had been taken into account when passing sentence.