First Minister Calls for Winter Fuel Payments Criticism to be Directed at Westminster
In a fiery exchange over cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners, First Minister Eluned Morgan urged opposition parties to take their criticism to Westminster. The leader of the Welsh Labour Government, who made history by becoming the first woman to hold the top job in August, faced questions at the Welsh Parliament during First Minister’s Questions. The opposition groups were critical of the decision by the Westminster Labour Party to cut winter fuel payments, affecting millions of pensioners.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the cuts, citing a need to address a £22 billion deficit in public finances. Baroness Morgan shifted the blame to the Liz Truss government and the financial challenges inherited from the Conservatives, stating that tough decisions had to be made. She reiterated that if the opposition wanted to challenge the policy, they should have done so in London rather than targeting her in Wales.
Baroness Morgan acknowledged the concerns raised by many pensioners in Wales and emphasised that support measures were in place for those most in need. When pressed by Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Tories, regarding the impact on 400,000 Welsh pensioners, she refused to apologise and instead directed the demand to the Prime Minister.
In another exchange, Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, questioned Welsh Labour’s commitment to scrapping the Barnett formula, which determines funding from the UK Government to Wales. Baroness Morgan assured that discussions on funding were underway with the Chancellor and Sir Keir Starmer. She stressed the ongoing dialogue and the upcoming budget announcement in the autumn.
The tense session highlighted the political tension between the Welsh and UK governments, with Baroness Morgan standing firm on the decisions of her government while urging critics to address their grievances in Westminster. The debate underscored the complexities of managing public finances and the challenges of meeting the needs of pensioners during difficult economic times.