Senedd set to vote on Plaid motion demanding fairer funding for Wales
“Welsh communities are suffering at the hands of unfair funding from Westminster” says Rhun ap Iorwerth
Plaid Cymru are urging any future UK Government to commit to a fair funding model for Wales, whatever London party is in charge.
The Senedd is set to debate a motion that will demand fairer funding for Wales.
On Wednesday (20th March 2024), Plaid Cymru will hold a Senedd debate to call upon the UK government to reform Wales’ unfair funding model.
Plaid Cymru’s Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the current funding model was “costing Welsh communities” and referred to the billions that continue to be denied to Wales from the HS2 project. Chronic underfunding, he said, meant were public services are struggling as a result.
The Plaid Cymru Leader said that a fairer funding model that funds Wales “according to need not population to drive prosperity and fairness” was something Welsh communities were “crying out for.”
Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:
“For too long, Wales has suffered from chronic underfunding at the hands of Westminster. An out-dated Barnett Formula which ignores Wales’ needs has led to billions being denied to Wales from HS2, a Welsh Government budget worth over £1bn less, and local authorities up and down the country in crisis. Our communities are suffering as a result.
“We know that this is not as good as it gets. A fair funding model based on Wales’ needs to replace the Barnett Formula would drive the economic prosperity and fairness that our communities are crying out for.
“Keir Starmer is taking Wales for granted - demonstrating time and again an unwillingness to depart from the Tory orthodoxy of denying Wales its fair share - and as the outgoing First Minister confirmed in the Senedd, Labour in Wales aren’t even trying to persuade him otherwise. Plaid Cymru will always stand up for fairness and ambition for Wales, but this too must be a commitment from any future UK Government – whatever London party is in charge.”