Heledd Fychan Canol De Cymru - South Wales Central

Plaid Cymru to vote against Labour’s budget on Tuesday

Labour’s budget denies fairness for Wales, Plaid Cymru has said.

Plaid Cymru’s finance spokesperson Heledd Fychan said that despite repeated promises of change, Wales remains short-changed under Labour – from the £4bn HS2 funding denied by Westminster to Labour’s refusal to grant Wales control over its own natural resources.

Ms Fychan said that the Welsh government budget could have been an opportunity to correct decades of unfairness and to show “real ambition” for Wales but instead continued a pattern of underinvestment in struggling Welsh public services like the NHS and local councils.

She confirmed that her party could not back a budget that fails to meet the scale of the challenges facing the country.

Labour’s final budget will be voted on today (Tuesday 4 March).

On Thursday 20th February, the Labour Government in Wales published its final budget for the next year after agreeing a deal with Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds.

Speaking ahead of the final vote on the Labour budget, Plaid Cymru’s Finance spokesperson in the Senedd Heledd Fychan MS said,

“Wales was promised change under two Labour governments, but all we’ve had is more of the same – unfairness and a lack of ambition for our nation.

 “We’re still denied the £4bn owed to us from HS2. There’s no fair funding deal to help our struggling public services. And just last week, Labour voted against Wales having control over our own natural resources – turning down millions in potential profit for our country.

 “Plaid Cymru will always work with others where we can for the good of our nation. This budget, however, fails to meet the challenges facing Wales, from local government to our NHS and we therefore cannot support it.

 “Wales needs fresh thinking and a government that won’t rest until our country gets fair play from Westminster. Plaid Cymru is the only party fighting for fairness for Wales – with ambitious, long-term solutions to improve our NHS, grow our economy, and build a stronger future for our nation.