First Minister's relief at welfare cuts U-turn but Plaid slam 'artificial intelligence' speech

North Wales Live

18 hours ago

The First Minister of Wales today spoke of her "relief" after planned welfare cuts were reversed by the UK Government and criticised the opposition. But Plaid Cymru insisted part of her speech could have been written by artificial intelligence.
The political sparring came as Welsh Labour held its conference in Llandudno 's Venue Cymru. Outside the building farmers protested about Inheritance Tax changes among several other issues.
Pro-Palestine and pro-Israeli supporters were also in the resort to promote their causes. The conference in Llandudno comes on the heels of Sir Keir's U-turn on welfare policy to avert a major backbench rebellion that will leave Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing a scramble to fill a potential hole in her budget this autumn. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
First Minister Eluned Morgan MS welcomed fellow Labour Party member Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to the event. She said she was 'glad' the UK Government listened to her concerns and reversed planned welfare cuts.
The decision will bring 'huge and welcome relief' to thousands in Wales, she added. Baroness Morgan also said she was not 'afraid to speak up when it matters.
"I'm glad the UK Government is a listening government and they heard our concerns and changed their approach to welfare cuts,' she said.
'We were really concerned about the impact these changes could have on some of our poorest and most vulnerable communities, and we made that clear to our colleagues in Westminster.
'And I am really glad they listened because that decision brings huge and welcome relief to thousands of people in Wales who rely on this support to live with dignity.'
However, Plaid Cymru branded part of Baroness Morgan's speech "vague", claiming it "could have been written by ChatGPT". A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: "Eluned Morgan's speech was all slogan, no substance.
"Her big announcement was that Wales should 'get ready for the AI revolution' - a line so vague and disconnected from reality, it could've been written by ChatGPT."
Baroness Morgan had promised to modernise the NHS. But Plaid hit back: "She talked about making the NHS"fit for the 21st century", but Labour 's been running it for the entire 21st century so far, all 25 years of it. If it isn't fit by now, whose fault is that?"
Plaid added: "Wales needs fresh ideas, practical solutions, and genuine ambition - not the hollow promises of a party that's run out of steam. It's time for new leadership with Plaid Cymru."
As for Reform UK, the Prime Minister described leader Nigel Farage as a 'wolf in Wall Street clothing' who has 'no idea what he's talking about'. He claimed the Reform UK leader 'isn't interested in Wales' and has no viable plan for the blast furnaces at Port Talbot.
While Baroness Morgan said: 'While Nigel Farage is in Port Talbot peddling fantasies about sending people's grandchildren down coal mines and reopening blast furnaces, we're dealing with the reality that they left behind, the scars of decades of Tory neglect, the the cost of industrial decline,' she said.
'We're not romanticizing the past. We're cleaning it up.'
Meanwhile Pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside the Welsh Labour conference. A group of some 150 demonstrators waving Palestinian flags walked solemnly to the venue in Llandudno where they stood for a few minutes to the beat of a drum.
A small group of pro-Israel protesters shouted 'free the hostages' and held signs saying 'free Gazans from Hamas'.