Latest news with #ElunedMorgan
Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
First Minister criticised by Labour Senedd members over 'scattergun' Welsh Government policy
First Minister criticised by Labour Senedd members over 'scattergun' Welsh Government policy Eluned Morgan faced tough questions over her government's international strategy First Minister Eluned Morgan (Image: PA Media ) Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan was criticised over the Welsh Government's international strategy, including by some of her own party's Senedd members. She appeared at the Senedd's culture committee and was asked about international strategy and plans for an investment summit in December at the Celtic Manor in Newport. Labour's Llanelli MS, Lee Waters, asked what a planned summit would actually achieve. "You've created a summit. Well, having organised lots of conferences – conferences can take a lot of energy and deliver very little, so [it's] interesting how you measure that." The First Minister responded there were three priorities – to raise the nation's profile, grow the economy and establish Wales as a globally responsible country. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here When she was further questioned, she said: "We've got a lot of ambitions and we're doing a lot of work on it and we're expecting it to deliver quite a bit.' Asked again what December's summit at Celtic Manor will deliver, she said: "Well, you'll have to wait and see because we don't know until it's actually happened." The First Minister who was previously accused of undermining scrutiny by earlier declining to give evidence, said she would not give "chapter and verse" on expectations for the summit. Article continues below Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan then said: "I have to say I'm really unclear about what the answer was to Lee Waters' question there. "It seems very scattergun rather than strategic – that's my impression from the evidence I've just heard – how are you able to reassure me, that's not the case?" Mrs Morgan deferred to Welsh Government officials: Andrew Gwatkin and David Warren. Mr Gwatkin said: "It's not a case of us being headless, jumping from one thing to another. "There is a constant and core to what we do…. but, of course, we're a small team – we can't adapt to everything… we can't do everything and our budgets, similarly, are what they are." The questioning then turned to the international strategy, which in a previous role, Mrs Morgan was responsible for. It contains 270 actions. During the meeting on June 18, she pointed to the impact of the pandemic, Brexit, war in Ukraine and US president Trump on that. However, another Labour MS then had his say. Blaenau Gwent MS Alun Davies, said: "What we want is to understand how the government is spending public money… to hold [the] government to account for that and that's a fair and reasonable request to make." She responded that "over the summer" the 270 actions would be looked at "so it's clear and more transparent". "There will be some things in there we haven't been able to achieve because the world has changed." She then added: "Just to manage your expectations, we've got one person working on this,' with Mr Davies earlier joking: 'I've been a member here for 20 years, first minister, my expectations are well managed." Article continues below
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Cardiff Central included in spending review rail cash
It has emerged that some of the money needed to redevelop Cardiff's main railway station will come from a pot of cash announced last week for Welsh week's UK government spending review allocated £445m for new rail projects - including five new local stations in Cardiff, Newport and Monmouthshire - but Cardiff Central was not mentioned at the proposed £140m Cardiff Central revamp aims to alleviate overcrowding and improve accessibility, with the UK government expected to Secretary Jo Stevens has now told BBC Wales that the funding "includes work we are doing" on that redevelopment. Stevens had told BBC Wales last week that the money for the station upgrade was is not clear how much is expected to come from the £445m pot announced in the spending have been concerns in the Welsh government over the last week that the £445m did include the cash for Central - meaning there would be less to spend on the other Minister Eluned Morgan, in a BBC Wales interview on Wednesday, suggested she was not sure whether the cash announced at the spending review included money for Cardiff Central or not, saying she had not seen the "detail".The £445m includes £300m that is meant to cover five new stations and improvement work in north Wales. Previous estimates for the five new stations put the cost of that project - together with the improvements that would be needed to the mainline - at £ a UK government minister told a Welsh MP he "might want to be a little more grateful" after he said the £445m offered was "insulting". Under the Transport for Wales proposals, up to £140m funding for the Cardiff Central project will be provided by the Department for Transport, Cardiff Capital Region and the Welsh include a larger concourse to increase capacity and improve passenger access through additional on a visit to Tylorstown in Rhondda, the first minister said on Wednesday: "What we have got is clarity in terms of how the five new stations that were announced by the chancellor will be funded and that is absolutely crucial."So if there is not enough money to fund that and Cardiff station they have to make sure they honour that."When asked whether the Cardiff station money might have been included in the £445m, she replied: "I haven't seen the detail of that. What I'm saying is that those five stations were promised by the chancellor."She added: "There's always going to be further discussions". The UK government allocated £445m of funding for Welsh rail improvements over ten years at last week's spending review.£300m will go to five new stations around Cardiff and Newport between 2026 and 2030, and a series of improvement works including measures to improve capacity in north £48m is earmarked for the South Wales Metro, while the rest is for future development said work on the Cardiff Central redevelopment "is already being delivered".Speaking to BBC Wales on Thursday, she said: "The announcement last week in the spending review of at least £445m for rail infrastructure in Wales, includes work we are doing around Cardiff Central redevelopment, but also some other work around projects that are already being delivered."She added: "It means passengers in Wales are going to have more capacity, more faster trains, more stations, and all the feedback I've had about that so far has been really, really positive." In the Commons on Thursday Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick took issue with the rail package."I hope the minister appreciates just how insulting it is for Welsh ears to been told that we're getting a fair deal when it comes to railway funding, when we've been cheated out of billions of pounds due to the classification of several projects as England [and] Wales said five new stations in south Wales was "hardly national renewal".In response, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said: "There's a huge difference. Under the last government you didn't get a penny."Jones said the UK government was providing the "largest real terms increase in spending in Wales since devolution began".He added: "You might want to be a little more grateful in future."Chadwick said in a statement: "This was a gobsmackingly arrogant response from the minister that just shows how out of touch Labour are with Wales."The previous UK government had supported the electrification of the south Wales mainline up to Cardiff, but cancelled it beyond Swansea. It also helped fund the South Wales Metro scheme. Welsh gov 'to decide on post-EU aid' Morgan also said she had asked for clarity around the UK government's new local growth funds, but had been told the Welsh government would decide where the money is £211m each year to Wales between 2026 and 2029, it will replace the Shared Prosperity Fund, set up by the Conservatives as a stand-in for European Union economic aid used to be administered by the Welsh government while the UK was in the European week Stevens said that the Welsh government would be "taking on a big decision-making role around that" with the Wales Office in Westminster having "oversight".The scheme would still be ultimately administered by the UK arrangement led to accusations in the Senedd on Wednesday, from Conservative MS Samuel Kurtz and Labour's Alun Davies, that UK Labour had broken a manifesto said that after seeking clarity she was clear that the Welsh government would decide where the cash goes."It will be the Welsh government deciding where that money is spent."We have had that reassurance from the secretary of state for Wales, and the prime minister made it clear from the stage of the Wales Labour Party conference," she said."As far as I am concerned we know where we stand on that. Now we know how much money we have got we can start a plan."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Australian PM says Welsh roots shaped her
Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said her strong sense of Welsh heritage helped shaped her view of politics. Gillard was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, and was only four years old when her family emigrated to Australia. The 63-year-old, who was the Australian Labor Party prime minister from 2010-2013 said figures such as Anuerin Bevan were "idolised" in her home and her parents instilled in her the idea that politics can affect real change. Ms Gillard recently sat down with Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan who, like her, was the first female leader of her country. Neither of her parents spoke Welsh "apart from the occasional swear word", but had a "very strong sense of their Welsh identity," Gillard said. ''We always had this sense that our lives were formed in Australia, but we knew we had this heritage," she added. Gillard recalled that her father was particularly interested in politics and news from his hometown and he had a great impact on her career. ''He gave me the sense that politics really mattered and that it could change people's lives," she added. She remembered understanding even as a child the impact a "transformative figure" like Aneurin Bevan could have on people. He could "make people's lives better" and "I was obviously attracted by that", she said. ''But it was a long time before the penny dropped that I was the kind of person that could go into politics," she added. She recently reflected on this in an interview for her podcast with Morgan, Wales' first minister. ''We got to talk about life, the universe and everything, including being from Barry,'' she told BBC Walescast. She said that during her time in office she experienced many incidents of sexism and misogyny. ''I had expected a wave [of sexism] around me being the first female leader. ''I assumed, though, that that wave would break, that it would become normalised... and it would go back to politics as usual. ''So, I was taken aback by the fact that it never broke. If anything, the amplitude of the wave just got higher and higher.'' It was not until a speech she made in October 2012, that she felt able to lay out her experiences of sexism as a female politician. The speech, which called out the leader of the opposition for sexist comments about the prime minister, was shared around the world and seen by millions of people. But Gillard said she regretted not speaking out sooner and would advise any female leader today to "call it out" immediately. She believes it is important for people in a position of power to share their own experiences of prejudice. "Unless we call things out, unless we shine a light on them, human behaviour doesn't change," she said. Gillard said things have changed for a better in a lot of ways when it comes to gender equality, but social media has created a "toxic sewer for women". ''I think we have been having a far more robust and open debate about gender equality, particularly about sexual harassment," she said. She backed social media regulation as one way of helping to deal with this problem. Australia is set to ban children under 16 from using social media this year after its parliament approved the world's strictest laws. Gillard said social media could also have "huge benefits" but she was "extremely pro-regulation". "In the face of something that is mixed, good and bad, we regulate to try and get the bad out of the system." Welsh roots key to ex-PM's politics 'Grey suits are out' - The story of Wales' new first minister
Wales Online
a day ago
- Business
- Wales Online
110,000 extra households in Wales will see energy bills cut by £150
110,000 extra households in Wales will see energy bills cut by £150 The warm home discount is being extended, which means thousands of more households in Wales will see their energy bills slashed by £150 this winter An additional 110,000 households in Wales are set to receive a £150 reduction on their energy bills this winter as the warm home discount scheme is extended, the UK Government has confirmed. The latest measure comes after a series of cost of living support initiatives were made through the government's Plan for Change. As a result approximately 110,000 extra households in Wales will get a £150 decrease in their energy bills this winter. For money-saving tips sign up to our Money newsletter here. In the UK more than six million households will receive the discount, which will see 2.7m more households receive support including 900,000 families with children and a total of 1.8m households in fuel poverty. According to the UK Government every billpayer on means-tested benefits will be eligible, eliminating previous restrictions that excluded those in need in the past. On the UK Government's website they say their Plan for Change initiative aims to stabilise the economy, adding: "Our missions – growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, opportunity for all, and making Britain a clean energy superpower – are part of a decade of national renewal built on the foundations of a stable economy, secure borders, and national security." It comes after First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan said she would hold the UK Government's 'feet to the fire' after receiving what she said were categorical assurances that Prime Minister Keir Starmer would follow through on a manifesto pledge of returning the running of post-EU structural funding to the Welsh Government. You can read more about this here. Article continues below In regards to the £150 reduction to thousands of households in Wales Mr Starmer said: " I know families across Wales are still struggling with the cost of living and I know the fear that comes with not being able to afford your next bill. "Providing security and peace of mind for working people is deeply personal to me as Prime Minister and foundational for the Plan for Change." Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: "This big increase in the number of households receiving money off their energy bills will make a real difference to working people and families right across Wales. "Our key objective is putting more money in people's pockets, firstly by growing the economy but also by increasing the minimum wage, making increases to universal credit and the state pension, and providing support with energy bills." The energy price cap is set to reduce this July with the additional £150, which was announced on Wednesday, June 18, aiming to further help households. Households can find out if they are eligible with the UK Gov website here. Article continues below
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Eluned Morgan says she will hold UK Government's feet to fire on funding promise
Eluned Morgan says she will hold UK Government's feet to fire on funding promise The First Minister says she has received categorical assurances that control of post EU funding will return to Wales First Minister Eluned Morgan. (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) First Minister Eluned Morgan said she will hold the UK Government's 'feet to the fire' after receiving what she said are categorical assurances that Sir Keir Starmer will follow through on a manifesto pledge of returning the running of post EU structural funding to the Welsh Government. What became the Shared Prosperity Fund, which will from next year will be known as the Local Growth Fund, was established by the former Tory Government of Boris Johnson as a replacement for the loss of structural funding from the EU following Brexit to some of the most deprived communities in the UK, including the Valleys and west Wales. EU structural funding was administered by the Welsh Government via the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO). With lobbying from then Welsh Secretary, Alun Cairns, the decision was taken that the post EU funding would bypass the Welsh Government and go straight to local authorities who were able to bid for funding for local based projects. Sir Keir Starmer first pledged a return of control to the Welsh Government when addressing the Welsh Labour's annual conference in 2023. It was also confirmed in the party's General Election manifesto last year. Confusion over the role of the Welsh Government in running of the fund was created in the spending review documentation last week from Chancellor Rachel Reeves setting out UK Government departmental spending settlements for the next three financial years starting next April. It clearly highlighted a role for the Wales Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in partnership with the Welsh Government on post EU structural funding. Article continues below It says: 'As one of the representatives for the nations, the Wales Office will work with the MHCLG to implement the new local growth fund, working in partnership with the Welsh Government. This will ensure that this funding is spent on projects that matter to the people of Wales and will drive growth across the country.' Similar language was also used in the documentation for Scotland nod Northern Ireland. Over the last week the Welsh Government has been seeking clarification, with the First Minister now saying she has received assurances from the Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones - although she didn't mention Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner. At a meeting of the Senedd committee for culture, communications, Welsh language, sport and international relations, Blaenau Gwent Labour MS Alun Davies said the spending review reference had seemingly broken the manifesto pledge by the Prime Minister on repatriating powers back to Wales. In response Ms Morgan said:'Just to make it clear I am not accepting what was put in there (spending review) in the way it has been interpreted. I have had a categorical assurance from the Secretary of State for Wales that this will be decided and managed by the Welsh Government. "This was a commitment by the Prime Minister on the stage of the Labour Party conference and I have made it absolutely clear that we will be holding their feet to the fire on this. And I am actually more confident that we are going to get to the place that I want to be, because I have been given those reassurances and it is something I also made clear in a meeting last week in front of the First Secretary to the Treasury (Darren Jones). In response Mr Davies said he very much welcomed the clarification. In the spending review it was confirmed that Wales will get an allocation of £630m over a three year period from April next year from the MHCLG's local growth fund. Wales getting a 22% allocation of the total funding available. If it was allocated to Wales under the Barnet Formula it would only receive around 5%. A UK Goverment source said 'Wales got the best deal on growth funding of any U nation. Every penny and the overall share of Wales' fund was protected. We are wholly committed to delivering Keir Starmer's pledge to restore the decision making role to Welsh Goverment.' Article continues below If the Welsh Government is to control the fund it will need to set up a delivery team as well as setting priorities for investment. A Welsh Government spokesman said; 'We will ensure this £630m funding has greater impact than the legacy Shared Prosperity fund. "We will continue to discuss the detail of this funding with the UK Government and will decide how it is used to support our economic ambitions and bring prosperity to all parts of Wales.'
