Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has pledged to be “as constructive as I can possibly be” after losing his first major vote on spending plans since becoming Wales’ First Minister, but he attacked Welsh Labour for refusing to back the supplementary budget. The vote on July 14 saw 49 Senedd members reject the £300m package, which included funding for the NHS, childcare, free school meals, social housing, and transport, with only 44 in favour. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and Conservative members all voted against the plans, while the two Green MSs supported them.
First Minister Acknowledges Need for Partnerships
Mr ap Iorwerth admitted he had lessons to learn but said there were lessons for Labour too, stating: “There are lessons here on how to be an effective government, but also there are lessons on how to be an effective opposition, which I don't think Labour were.” He recognised he had “to seek partnerships” but showed no indication of pursuing a formal co-operation deal or coalition. Instead, he accused Labour of squandering the chance to influence government priorities. “We have a situation where Labour have to decide why they decided to vote against a progressive budget that they had been able to influence positively and side with Reform, who were banging their desks in applause and appreciation of Labour's position,” he said.
Sticking Point: Additional Learning Needs Funding
The main sticking point was funding for additional learning needs (ALN). Labour had requested £100m this year, while Plaid offered £120m split over three years. During a tense Senedd debate, finance minister Elin Jones expressed her “flabbergast” at Labour’s refusal to back the plan despite securing ALN funding during negotiations. She told Labour members: “I know that you have recently been badly defeated in an election. I know it’s painful and confusing, I have been there. But ultimately, you will not be defined by that loss, but how you respond to it. It can make a party or break it.” She added: “Labour voted against fair funding for Wales. I shudder to think how successive, successful, previous Labour first ministers would have viewed that.... You will be voting with parties of the right who will welcome you.”
Minority Government Challenges
Having formed a minority government after May’s election, Plaid Cymru needs support from other parties to pass legislation. With Green support, the supplementary budget could have passed if Labour members had abstained. Mr ap Iorwerth noted: “It was just a matter of abstaining, they could still say that they needed more in it, but was it a solid budget that did what we needed to do for those services?” He highlighted the £330m in-year overspend inherited from the previous Labour government as a constraint on what Plaid could offer.
First Minister Defends Approach
Asked if the loss indicated future difficulties for his administration, Mr ap Iorwerth said: “I have been very, very open since becoming First Minister that I recognise that you have to seek partnerships. That's how it works where you have a minority government, which is quite normal, you have to make sure that you build those relations with people that can ultimately get the job done.” He emphasised that his legislative programme was designed to invite cooperation, stating: “The legislation is mapped out in a way where we are inviting essentially others to help develop that legislation.” He also expressed concern that the public might view the vote as just another political row, saying: “That's a real worry, which is why we were so determined to be so constructive.”
