Plaid Cymru’s leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has called on Wales’ First Minister, Eluned Morgan, to “reprimand” Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the cuts to the winter fuel allowance. As the Senedd reconvenes after the summer break, ap Iorwerth outlined three demands for Morgan. The First Minister is set to face her first round of questions today, where she will lay out her government’s priorities for the upcoming term.
Plaid Cymru has criticised what they see as a “PR stunt” by Morgan, referring to her “listening exercise” conducted over the summer. They argue that after 25 years of Labour rule in Wales, there is a pressing need for action on issues such as record-high NHS waiting lists, declining educational standards, and low wages compared to the UK average. Ap Iorwerth stressed the importance of concrete steps to address these challenges.
One of the key demands put forward by Plaid Cymru is for Morgan to publicly reprimand the Prime Minister for cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners and maintaining the two-child cap. The party also wants the First Minister to highlight to the Chancellor the impact of further austerity measures on public services and push for a new funding formula for Wales. Additionally, they are calling for reforms within the NHS to tackle waiting lists effectively.
Looking ahead, Plaid Cymru is focused on the 2026 Senedd election, with the possibility of potentially securing enough support to influence budget decisions. While Labour lacks the votes to pass a budget on its own, cooperation with parties like the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru may be necessary. Polling data following the recent general election indicated that Plaid Cymru could be in a strong position going forward.
As conversations around budget allocations unfold, the spotlight remains on the actions that the Welsh government will take to address critical issues facing the country. The call for accountability and tangible progress marks a pivotal moment as Wales navigates its way through the challenges ahead.