Latest news with #LabourUKGovernment
Leader Live
23-07-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
North Wales MS Mark Isherwood introduces Sign Language Bill
As I said 'too often, Deaf people are unable to access vital public services because they cannot communicate in their first language. This denies them their rights, and places them at a significant disadvantage - whether in healthcare, education, employment, transport, or otherwise. The Bill aims to address this by introducing a legal requirement to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales'. If passed, this will be the most progressive BSL law in the UK. BBC Radio Wales also interviewed me about my Bill. Questioning the First Minister, I spoke of the substantial sum of Shared Prosperity Funding allocated to communities throughout North Wales by the previous UK Government, and said it is vital that changes to the way this funding is allocated by the current Labour UK Government do not result in North Wales losing out. Questioning the Health Secretary about the temporary closure of St David's Hospice's in-patient beds in Holyhead, I highlighted the financial difficulties Hospices throughout Wales are facing, and their need for support to deliver more for individuals, families and the NHS. Speaking in the Debate on 'the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee Report' as Chair of the Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, I said that the Committee have agreed to lead the scrutiny of gaps identified by the soon to be disbanded Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee in relation to the UK Inquiry Module 1 'to ensure that some scrutiny of these important matters is done within this Senedd, rather than none'. Meetings included Cross-Party Group for Funerals and Bereavement, at which I was re-elected as its Chair; Cross-Party Groups on Diabetes and on Dementia; Autism support Charity 'Your Space Marches' AGM; Bipolar UK; counsellor training provider Chrysalis, to discuss how qualified counsellors can support local mental health objectives; and 'STAND North Wales' (Stronger Together for Additional Needs and Disabilities), regarding their Petition to the Welsh Parliament Petitions Committee, 'Make Blue badge Applications Lifelong for individuals who have a lifelong diagnosis'. Engagements included UK Covid Inquiry Special Briefing by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru; Jonathan's House (a sanctuary for men after experiencing abuse); and the Senedd's Y Farchnad, where I visited Welsh NHS Confederation, Competition and Markets Authority, Two Rhythms, Royal Mail, Welsh Cross Party Group on Beer and Pubs, Wales & West Utilities, Severe ME Difrifol Cymru, and BookTrust Cymru. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
ITV News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Kemi Badenoch labels Labour policy a 'disaster' for farming in Wales
Kemi Badenoch has said Labour policies have been a disaster for farming in Wales. The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has said that Labour governments in Cardiff and London have been 'a disaster for farming' here in Wales. Speaking at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells, she said a Conservative UK Government would 'reverse' Labour UK Government plans to change inheritance tax, which she called 'the immoral family farm tax'. She told ITV Cymru Wales: 'We are promising to back farmers. Farming is a way of life. Standing up for farmers is standing up for Britain. And one of the things that Labour did when it first came into office was bring in the immoral family farm tax. It is going to destroy farming across our country. And I have said that once Conservatives get back into government we will reverse it.' As well as still reeling from a massive defeat in last year's UK General Election, which saw not a single Conservative MP elected for Wales, the party is also looking at losses ahead of next year's Senedd election. The most recent Barn Cymru poll for ITV Wales and Cardiff University suggested the Conservatives could end up in fourth place with as few as nine Senedd Members. In her interview, Kemi Badenoch acknowledged that her party faces an uphill struggle. 'Well, we know that we suffered a historic defeat last year," she said. "It's not going to be easy to get back on track, but that's the work that I'm doing. It's one of the reasons why I'm here, getting all across the country, trying to rebuild trust with the public, acknowledging where we made mistakes and showing that Wales has not thrived under Labour. It certainly won't under Plaid. It most definitely will not under Reform.' She was asked, too, if she has confidence in Darren Millar's leadership of the Welsh Conservatives in Wales. She said. 'Absolutely. Darren is here with me. We get on famously. We speak all the time. He is absolutely the right person to be First Minister.' And she was asked, too, about the status of his leadership. When Andrew RT Davies was first in charge of the Welsh Tories, the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, said publicly that Mr Davies was considered the leader of the wider party in Wales. Since then, other leaders have held varying views. I asked her: 'Who is the leader of the Welsh Conservatives? Not just the group in the Senedd: who leads the Welsh Conservatives?' KB: 'I do.' 'And where does Darren Millar sit in that?' KB: 'Darren is the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd but this is not what the public are asking about. They want to know who's going to deliver for the people of Wales and that is the Conservatives.' 'The only reason I ask is because different Conservative leaders have given different answers.' KB: 'Well you've asked me the question. We are a united party. We are the Unionist party. We're not interested in carving ourselves up and having lots of little, you know, different groups and factions. We are the Conservative and Unionist Party. We believe in the United Kingdom. We want Wales to be very much a part of the United Kingdom, not what Plaid Cymru is offering. Labour will end up sectioning Wales off the way they're going.' And she backed the decision to insist that Conservative candidates in next year's Senedd election should not be opposed to devolution, saying: 'That is the settlement that we have now. Devolution is a process. What we need to make sure is we have the best people. It's the people that matter.' Asked if she was sceptical about devolution, she said: 'Well, yes, because people think devolution is a solution in and of itself. It's not. It's how you use it. And that's why you have to look at the people. If you put bad people in, then it doesn't matter whether you're devolved or not, if you have great people then yes, devolution would work.' The Conservative leader said: 'That's that, honestly, in terms of the top 100 things that this country needs, that's not one of them.'
The National
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Labour's 'minor' U-turn will leave benefits system 'woefully inadequate'
Ian Greaves, who edits the Disability Rights Handbook containing in-depth information on the social security system across the UK, has hit out at Labour figures and the mainstream media for branding the climbdown 'massive' when the concessions are 'minor and technical'. After more than 100 Labour MPs threatened to rebel against the government on cuts to disability benefits, the Labour UK Government has performed a partial U-turn on its proposals. People who currently receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP), or the health element of Universal Credit, will continue to do so. READ MORE: We investigate the state of the welfare state – read our new series But planned cuts will still hit future claimants from November next year. It means anyone who does not score four or more points in one of the activities assessed for the PIP daily living component will not receive it if they apply after November 2026. Staggering statistics supplied by the DWP show this would leave almost half of claimants who suffer with multiple sclerosis ineligible. Greaves told The National he was expecting much more significant changes to be proposed and is surprised MPs like Meg Hillier (below) – whose amendment against the cuts was signed by almost 130 Labour MPs – are now suggesting the changes are a 'real breakthrough' and a 'good step forward'. (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) 'I'm surprised that the concessions have been so limited, I was genuinely expecting something more substantial,' he said. 'I thought they'd move on the points. I thought the kind of concession they would make is to say if you get 10 or 12 points or more, that four-point rule doesn't apply to you anymore. 'It had been indicated to us they might be considering something like that and that would have been a significant concession.' Asked if he would urge Labour MPs to still reject the legislation next week, he said: 'Absolutely. I would urge them to look at the reasons they rejected it in the first place. 'These are not concessions of any significance. READ MORE: Will changes on disability benefit cuts affect Scotland? 'Fundamentally it is not fair and immoral to reduce the health-related support in Universal Credit by 50%. Already people with disabilities on Universal Credit are struggling to pay for their basic needs. 'Their debt is going to increase. How can you possibly justify doing that?' Greaves, who is based in Edinburgh, said it was 'laudable' the Scottish Government has pledged not to replicate the cuts to PIP in its own Adult Disability Payment. While the changes made by Labour will not affect ADP directly, they will impact on the Scottish Government budget and Scots will still be impacted by proposals to reduce the health-element of Universal Credit, which is reserved. Greaves said the latest changes by Labour will create a 'two-tier system' which will make it more difficult for disabled people to get into work – the opposite to what Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has been claiming. Greaves said: 'They [Labour] have fiddled around the edges. 'To say to someone who, let's say, in four years time has a stroke, and consequently has mobility problems, that a benefit that has been afforded to someone in their position before, has been pulled away, is completely unfair. 'For new claimants, the new system will be woefully inadequate.' He added: 'What Liz Kendall is saying about getting people back into work is disingenuous. Personal Independence Payments is not a benefit that's paid because you cannot work. 'Moreover, because of that, it's an extremely helpful benefit if you have a disability and you want to move into work. It's going to make it a lot more difficult for people to move into work.'
The National
27-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Scotland reacts as Labour announce 'two-tier' benefits U-turn
The Labour UK Government has been forced into a partial U-turn on its welfare reform bill after more than 120 party MPs threatened to rebel against the government in a vote next week. As part of the concessions, people who currently receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP), or the health element of Universal Credit, will continue to do so. But planned cuts to these payments will still hit future claimants, with the fresh package of measures now being branded as a 'two-tier system' that will see the 'young treated worse than the old'. The new plan still keeps in place proposals to change the eligibility criteria for PIP for future claimants. READ MORE: No changes to council tax 'in this decade', says Scottish Government Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland's Social Justice Secretary, has criticised the 'backroom late night deal', highlighting disabled people had still not been consulted on the plans. And she has stressed such measures will not be implemented in Scotland. She posted on Twitter/X: 'A two-tier system cannot be a fair system. 'That's what disabled people would have told the Labour Government if they had actually asked them rather than making a backroom late night deal with their own MPs. 'And this half U-turn still does not scrap the 4+ points rule which will prevent support for 100,000s with diffuse disabilities in the future. @scotgov will not follow Labour's lead on any of these changes.' Scotland does not have PIP and instead has a separate devolved payment known as the Adult Disability Payment, but decisions made in London on disability benefits will still impact on Scotland financially. The concessions have gone down well with some of the Labour rebels including ringleader Meg Hillier (below), who is now expected to withdraw her reasoned amendment that had been signed by nearly 130 Labour MPs, including 12 Scottish ones. (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) But others have stressed the plan remains inadequate, with Labour MP Nadia Whittome saying the revised proposals are 'nowhere near good enough'. She BBC Radio 4's Today programme that cutting disability benefits will 'in the long-term mean more spending because it has knock-on consequences'. 'Voting for this bill would mean pulling up the ladder and baking in poverty for future disabled people,' she went on. Peter Lamb, Labour MP for Crawley, also wrote on social media that he would still not support the bill, calling the changes "insufficient" and accusing ministers of ignoring better options. Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman said the concessions were "not enough because disabled people will still become poorer". SNP MP Pete Wishart said he hoped the rebels would stand firm and continue to oppose the bill. Sharing news of the changes, he tweeted: 'Not nearly good enough. A two-tier system which will depend on when you claim for your support. Let's hope the 'rebellion' won't settle for this.' Former Labour MSP Neil Findlay also said that MPs 'need to stand firm and see off Government attempts to divide those opposed to their dreadful cuts.' READ MORE: Question Time called out as Reform councillor on St Andrews panel SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said Keir Starmer is 'on the brink of creating a two-tier disability system where the young will be treated worse than the old'. He added: 'The message from the Labour Party is clear – if you have an accident that causes a disability, develop a disability over time or if you have a child with a disability you will receive less support than those who have come before you." If the legislation passes on Tuesday, it will then face a few hours' examination by all MPs the following week, rather than days or weeks in front of a committee.
The National
27-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Scotland reacts to Labour's 'two-tier' benefits U-turn
The Labour UK Government has been forced into a partial U-turn on its welfare reform bill after more than 120 party MPs threatened to rebel against the government in a vote next week. As part of the concessions, people who currently receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP), or the health element of Universal Credit, will continue to do so. But planned cuts to these payments will still hit future claimants, with the fresh package of measures now being branded as a 'two-tier system' that will see the 'young treated worse than the old'. The new plan still keeps in place proposals to change the eligibility criteria for PIP for future claimants. READ MORE: No changes to council tax 'in this decade', says Scottish Government Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland's Social Justice Secretary, has criticised the 'backroom late night deal', highlighting disabled people had still not been consulted on the plans. And she has stressed such measures will not be implemented in Scotland. She posted on Twitter/X: 'A two-tier system cannot be a fair system. 'That's what disabled people would have told the Labour Government if they had actually asked them rather than making a backroom late night deal with their own MPs. 'And this half U-turn still does not scrap the 4+ points rule which will prevent support for 100,000s with diffuse disabilities in the future. @scotgov will not follow Labour's lead on any of these changes.' Scotland does not have PIP and instead has a separate devolved payment known as the Adult Disability Payment, but decisions made in London on disability benefits will still impact on Scotland financially. The concessions have gone down well with some of the Labour rebels including ringleader Meg Hillier (below), who is now expected to withdraw her reasoned amendment that had been signed by nearly 130 Labour MPs, including 12 Scottish ones. (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) But others have stressed the plan remains inadequate, with Labour MP Nadia Whittome saying the revised proposals are 'nowhere near good enough'. She BBC Radio 4's Today programme that cutting disability benefits will 'in the long-term mean more spending because it has knock-on consequences'. 'Voting for this bill would mean pulling up the ladder and baking in poverty for future disabled people,' she went on. Peter Lamb, Labour MP for Crawley, also wrote on social media that he would still not support the bill, calling the changes "insufficient" and accusing ministers of ignoring better options. Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman said the concessions were "not enough because disabled people will still become poorer". SNP MP Pete Wishart said he hoped the rebels would stand firm and continue to oppose the bill. Sharing news of the changes, he tweeted: 'Not nearly good enough. A two-tier system which will depend on when you claim for your support. Let's hope the 'rebellion' won't settle for this.' Former Labour MSP Neil Findlay also said that MPs 'need to stand firm and see off Government attempts to divide those opposed to their dreadful cuts.' READ MORE: Question Time called out as Reform councillor on St Andrews panel SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said Keir Starmer is 'on the brink of creating a two-tier disability system where the young will be treated worse than the old'. He added: 'The message from the Labour Party is clear – if you have an accident that causes a disability, develop a disability over time or if you have a child with a disability you will receive less support than those who have come before you." If the legislation passes on Tuesday, it will then face a few hours' examination by all MPs the following week, rather than days or weeks in front of a committee.
