Welsh Government set to lose budget vote as parties refuse to back Plaid spending plans

The Plaid Cymru minority government in Cardiff Bay looks destined to lose its first major Senedd vote this evening.

Labour has now ruled out supporting the Welsh Government’s proposed supplementary budget, which will allocate £411m of spending that was unallocated in the main budget earlier this year.

Plaid needs at least six other votes in the Senedd to pass its spending plans and, as of Tuesday afternoon, appears not to have won the support of any other group in the chamber.

It would be a significant symbolic loss for Rhun ap Iorwerth’s administration which shows how challenging it will be to run a minority administration for the next four years.

On Tuesday morning the Tories and Reform UK made it clear they will not support Plaid’s budget as it stood then, but Labour’s Senedd members were meeting to discuss a last-ditch offer from Plaid Cymru which was sent by the First Minister on Monday (July 13).

Plaid offered Labour an extra £120m for additional learning needs education over the next three years to win the party’s support.

But on Tuesday afternoon interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates said he had written to First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth asking him to withdraw the supplementary budget, saying it was not enough.

“In all our discussions funding for additional learning needs (ALN) has been a top priority for Welsh Labour,” said Mr Skates.

“Yesterday both the school leaders’ unions in Wales, NAHT Cymru and ASCL Cymru, notified the cabinet minister for education and the Welsh language that they are formally declaring a trade dispute with the Welsh Government.

“This is both unprecedented and deeply regrettable.

“Less than 100 days into government Plaid Cymru find themselves in chaos, unable to work collaboratively.

“By withdrawing the budget today we hope that they will resolve these issues with teaching unions and bring back another supplementary budget in the summer with £100m allocated for ALN.”

Following the news Labour would block the budget a Plaid Cymru source said: “By voting against the supplementary budget Labour will vote against £145m to cut NHS waiting lists, £120m for children with additional learning needs, £55m to expand funded childcare, and £15m for free school meals for secondary pupils most in need. In doing so Labour has abandoned its progressive values.

“Despite inheriting £333m of in-year pressures in the NHS the Welsh Government worked quickly to put a £120m proposal on the table to build a more sustainable ALN system.

“Labour have walked away from that offer – a move that will rightly be questioned by parents and teachers.

“By voting against the supplementary budget Labour are not only voting against more money for children with additional learning needs, money to cut waiting lists, and money to fund childcare, they will also be teaming up with the Tories and Reform.

“It is clear that they have learnt nothing from their humiliating election defeat in May. Wales rejected Labour in May but that doesn’t mean Labour should reject the priorities of the people of Wales.”

The debate on the budget is scheduled for 6pm if it is not withdrawn. Before it, at 1.30pm, is First Minister’s Questions where Rhun ap Iorwerth will be quizzed on a range of topics including cost savings, NHS waiting times, and whether he thinks there will be an impact of the UK Government’s defence investment plan on Wales.

He will also use a statement to lay out the first legislation his party plans to take through the Senedd. That includes a bill to strengthen the rights of people living in private rented accommodation, creating a community right to buy scheme, and a law that ensures the needs of people in rural areas are considered in policy-making.

Also in the Senedd today deputy first minister Sioned Williams will give further details on her party’s childcare plans and constitution minister Dafydd Trystan Davies will face questions.

We’ll be with you live from the Senedd throughout the afternoon with updates below: