Latest news with #MarkDrakeford
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Senedd rejection for renewed calls for M4 relief road
Sam Rowlands described the M4 relief road as a golden opportunity, not only to ease congestion for motorists but also to boost the economy. The Conservatives' shadow finance secretary said the Welsh Government spent £135m of public money on the project before it was scrapped in June 2019. He accused then-first minister Mark Drakeford of breaking a pledge on the £1.6bn relief road and going against an inquiry's finding that the costs would outweigh the benefits two to one. Mr Rowlands told the Senedd: 'At every step of this journey, there's been indecision and money wasted. At the end of it all, it's been the Welsh people who've had to suffer as a result. And nothing has been done to ease congestion around Newport ever since.' Peredur Owen Griffiths, Plaid Cymru's shadow transport secretary, criticised the Tories for calling for a new road through a site of special scientific interest. Calling for a more affordable and environmentally sustainable solution, he raised the lengthy and costly completion of the Heads of the Valleys Road improvements. He told the Senedd: 'After 23 years of roadworks and around £2bn later, [the] Welsh Government will now pay more than £40m a year for 30 years to a private firm before the road will be publicly owned in 2055.' Mr Owen Griffiths, who represents South Wales East, criticised the Welsh Government for being 'too slow' to put forward a genuine alternative solution to M4 congestion. John Griffiths welcomed £445m from the UK spending review for rail in Wales, including three new railway stations planned in his Newport East constituency. Mr Griffiths called for urgency in taking forward the recommendations of the Burns commission 'after far too much delay'. Natasha Asghar said her constituents in South Wales East are regularly faced with bumper-to-bumper traffic and long delays on the route which is not fit for purpose. 'These never ending clogs are not just a nightmare for those stuck in them, they're also a major economic roadblock,' she said. 'The constant gridlock and unreliable nature of the M4 is undoubtedly making Wales a less attractive place to do business.' Senedd members voted 32-12 against the Tory motion following the debate on June 18.
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Six years on since the M4 relief road was scrapped and the debate is going to be reopened
Six years on since the M4 relief road was scrapped and the debate is going to be reopened The scheme was scrapped due to cost and the impact on the environment Mark Drakeford previously cancelled the construction of the M4 relief road (Image: WalesOnline ) It is one of the most contentious, and talked about issues in Wales - should there be a new section of motorway in south Wales to ease the traffic jams that build up on the M4? Plans for an M4 relief road were drawn up, and a lot of money was spent on them before the Welsh Government said it wasn't going ahead as it had pledged previously. If it had been built, there would have been a 14-mile, six-lane motorway for people travelling to and from south Wales. It would have included a bridge built across the River Usk, as well as major remodelling of M4 junctions 23 Magor and 29 at Cardiff. The aim was to relieve congestion on the current M4 route which runs north of Newport, particularly at the Brynglas tunnels - where there it narrows to two lanes. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here But after years of debate, and, costs of £114m since 2013, just over six years ago, then-First Minister Mark Drakeford went back on a 2016 Labour manifesto pledge said the road would not be going ahead, due to a combination of factors - its cost and impact on the environment. He went against the finding of the public inquiry inspector's report which backed the scheme, although the inspector acknowledged it could not tell the Welsh Government how to spend its money. Article continues below The position at the time was that the economic climate meant the project was too expensive. Mr Drakeford went further though saying, it would not have gone ahead even if it was affordable because of the impact on the Gwent Levels. A year later, Mr Drakeford told people it was off the table and they should stop trying to continue the debate. "That decision is over," he said, adding he would be "concentrating on the alternatives" for solving the major traffic problems in the area. The First Minister is no longer Mr Drakeford, but the current post holder, Eluned Morgan, does not plan to reopen the debate. In a Senedd committee in December, she said: "We didn't develop the M4 relief road, there is still a problem, and Burns has set out some recommendations, and we do need to make sure that we fulfil our obligations to improve the situation in relation to the M4.". Then, earlier this year, in a live question and answer session for WalesOnline she said there simply wasn't the money to pay for a relief road. She said she understood frustrations, "we've all been in those traffic jams" but she said "fixing it costs over £1bn and we just don't have that money". Her focus was getting people to use alternatives, including trains, she said. In the UK Government's spending review last week, which sets out their financial plans for the coming years, chancellor Rachel Reeves committed £445m to rail in Wales including £300m for works on things like the five railway stations suggested by Lord Burns as an alternative to the relief road. You can read about those here. Despite that, as we start to see political parties try carve out their pitch to voters for the Senedd election in May 2026, the Welsh Conservatives have put the debate back on the table and this afternoon (June 18) will raise it for discussion in the Senedd. Their call - which will also be a manifesto pledge - is for "the Welsh Government to deliver an M4 relief road" and that they "regret that this month marks six years since the M4 relief road project was scrapped". There will be a 60-minute debate on the issue. However, any vote will not be binding, and will not have the support of Plaid Cymru and Labour whose members outnumber the Conservatives. Plaid Cymru will however criticise the Labour government because of "the failure of Welsh Government to quickly refocus funding originally earmarked for the M4 relief road project towards an alternative vision for a sustainable integrated Welsh transport network, including giving priority to addressing the congestion issues around Newport". Labour has tabled an alternative to the Conservative motion being discussed, saying it "deplores" what it calls "empty promises" from the Conservatives. The debate is due to start around 6pm on Wednesday, June 18. Article continues below
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Rachel Reeves accused of leaving devolved nations in red after NICs rise
Rachel Reeves has been accused of shortchanging the UK's devolved nations after leaving the Welsh, Scottish and northern Irish governments with multimillion-pound funding gaps. The chancellor said the Treasury would fully cover the 1.2% rise in national insurance contributions for employers on salaries above £5,000, which came in on 6 April. However, Reeves has calculated the amount of money needed by using the Barnett formula, which ensures funding increases proportional to England in terms of population. Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast – which all operate larger public sectors than England – now say they have been left in the red. The Celtic nations' finance officials have argued the move violates the UK's statement of funding policy, which states each constituent government is not allowed to act in a way that creates adverse financial implications for the others. The Welsh cabinet secretary for finance, Mark Drakeford, announced last week that the Welsh government would use £36m annually, taken from its reserves, to plug half the gap, but a further £36m would have to be funded by public sector employers, including health boards, all 22 local councils, Natural Resources Wales and Cardiff airport. The funding shortage amounts to cuts across the board of about 14%. Drakeford said: 'We have made our position very clear with the Treasury that using the Barnett formula in this instance is a breach of the rules. If this was a one-off, we may have been able to use more of our reserves to cover the shortfall, but as it is, this will unfairly impact Wales year after year.' The bill for Scotland's public services amounts to an estimated £700m, and about £200m in northern Ireland. The Treasury has agreed an additional £339m for Edinburgh and £146m for Belfast. Scotland's budget is already under significant pressure from the rising cost of devolved welfare benefits, public sector pay settlements, and new policy commitments – including the mitigation of the two-child limit. Holyrood's finance secretary, Shona Robison, has called repeatedly for the tax increase to be fully funded by the UK government. She said: 'We have been calling for the UK government to abandon its employer national insurance rise, which risks damaging the economy by making it harder for businesses to take on or keep staff. 'Failing that, we have asked that they fully fund this tax increase to ensure Scotland's NHS, councils and other public services don't lose out on vital revenue. 'As such, it is deeply disappointing that the funding falls so far short of the more than £700m bill we estimate public services face. It feels like Scotland is now being punished for having decided to employ more people in the public sector and to invest in key public services.' The UK government has defended the use of the Barnett formula in calculating public sector national insurance contributions. A spokesperson said the changes were 'in line with agreed funding arrangements and longstanding precedent'. However, the row has reignited a longstanding debate over whether the Barnett formula – in use since 1978 – is fit for purpose, and whether it should be reformed or scrapped in favour of a universal needs-based approach. It also adds to growing friction between the Welsh Labour and UK Labour administrations. Wales has consistently voted Labour for 100 years, and Welsh Labour has controlled the Senedd since its inception in 1999. However, with a year to go before the next Welsh elections, recent polling has suggested the party will trail in third place behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, with just 18% of votes, putting the first minister and Welsh Labour leader, Eluned Morgan, under pressure to differentiate her wing of the party from its Westminster counterpart. Rory Carroll contributed reporting
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unionist Irish language fears can be addressed - former Welsh first minister
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has said. Mark Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive". It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its cost. Drakeford, a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football". "I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said. "That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate." The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish nationalists. In Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British identity. Asked about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom". But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British tradition. The roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the laws. Interviews for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday. She added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible". Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us". "Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said. "So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central Station. The plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the courts. At local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some neighbourhoods. They have been vandalised more than 300 times in five years. Northern Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street signs. In Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express support. More than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years ago. Of those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no response. The figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them". "People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said. "It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory." Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language teacher. He said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history. "I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism." Irish street sign vandalism cost councils £60,000 NI language law could spell significant change
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Unionist Irish language fears 'can be addressed'
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive".It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football"."I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said."That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate."The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom".But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". 'Languages are special' Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible".Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us"."Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said."So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Grand Central Station signs Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some have been vandalised more than 300 times in five Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them"."People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said."It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory."Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history."I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism."
