Plaid Cymru confirms discussions with Welsh Labour on budget

Plaid Cymru has publicly confirmed that it is engaging in discussions with Welsh Labour regarding the upcoming government budget. The party has presented a "public offer" to Labour, emphasizing the need for increased funding for local councils and the health service before reaching any agreement.

Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth criticized the current plans, released in October, warning that they would "severely impact public services." During a Senedd session on Tuesday, ap Iorwerth clashed with First Minister Eluned Morgan, accusing her of being unaware of the ongoing budget discussions.

In the previous budget vote, Labour relied on the single vote of Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, to pass their spending proposals. However, Plaid Cymrus victory in the Caerphilly by-election now requires Labour to secure two additional votes for the budget due in January. Ministers have already consulted with the Welsh Conservatives, Dodds, and independent MS Russell George in pursuit of a deal.

Although Plaid has previously supported Labour in budget agreements, it joined the Conservatives in opposing the last set of spending plans. Finance Secretary Mark Drakefords draft budget, published last October, proposed around a 2% increase for each department. Yet, the budget left hundreds of millions unallocated, allowing room for discussions with opposition parties on potential spending priorities.

Warnings have been issued that, without adjustments, NHS organizations and councils may face service and job cuts due to varying cost pressures. Drakeford has expressed willingness to allocate additional funds to these services through the ongoing negotiations.

A Plaid source confirmed meetings between the partys finance spokesperson, Heledd Fychan, and Drakeford. The precise amount of extra funding remains unclear, though reports in early November suggested approximately 230 million could be available for daily operations.

During the Senedd session, ap Iorwerth highlighted the precarious state of public services, stating that NHS funding would see only a 0.3% real-term increase. He warned that thousands of council jobs could be at risk, describing a "grim picture" of services on the brink.

First Minister Morgan stated that her administration remains open to discussions with Plaid, inviting them to contribute to shaping the budget. Ap Iorwerth responded by urging Morgan to stay informed and claimed that Labour had ignored Plaid Cymrus public offer to secure funding for the NHS and local councils.

Drakeford remains hopeful that ongoing talks will provide additional support for both the NHS and council services.

Author: Logan Reeves