Voters have clocked something about Farage - but Welsh Labour chief is 'worried'
Reform UK pose a serious threat to Labour but voters are clocking Nigel Farage 's patronising view of Wales, the First Minister said.
Eluned Morgan admitted she was 'seriously worried' by the surge in support for the right-wing party ahead of next year's crunch Senedd elections.
She said Labour risks being taken for granted after being in power for so long but warned that things like free prescriptions, hospital car parking, and free bus travel for over 65s weren't guaranteed.
She said: "There's lots of things like that that we have that people just assume are going to continue.
"We're trying - in the light of the fact we have got elections next year - to remind people that these things could be lost.
'These are political choices."
On Reform, she said: "I'm seriously worried about the threat that they pose and it's not just about their ability to run a country.
"We've been here before in Wales, so Nigel Farage's party were elected to the Senedd before, they had seven members elected as Ukip.
"By the end of the parliament, six of them had left the party to join three different parties.
"We've seen them close up before, and it's not pretty. When the rubber hits the road, when it comes to Reform, it all falls apart."
She said Reform's plans for Elon Musk-style efficiency savings in local councils would mean cutting public sector jobs.
And she accused the party of wanting to introduce health insurance after Mr Farage repeatedly suggested he wanted to re-examine the NHS funding model.
She said: "People need to understand what's at stake if they vote for Reform."
Reform recently said it was committed to keeping the NHS free at the point of delivery and free prescriptions.
Mr Farage doesn't know the first thing about Wales, she said, pointing to his recent call to reopen domestic coal mines.
She said: "I would be very surprised if you could find anyone who worked in the coal mines in the past who wanted their grandchildren to go down the pits.
"That is somebody who doesn't understand and who hasn't watched somebody struggling to breathe as a result of emphysema, who hasn't had to live next door to an open cast coal area where they are breathing in particles.
"Then to suggest he's going to come in and reopen the blast furnace is absolutely illiterate in terms of understanding how the steel sector works - and that's starting to be clocked by people in Wales.
"To come in and patronise us with this very old fashioned view of Wales is something that I hope people will start to realise is not appropriate for our country."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
27 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Antisemitism an ‘urgent issue' for all of British society, Penny Mordaunt warns
The former Conservative minister joined Lord John Mann, the Government's antisemitism adviser, in chairing an independent commission on antisemitism on behalf of the Board of Deputies, Britain's largest Jewish community organisation. Writing in the Telegraph newspaper, the pair described themselves as 'hard-nosed politicians' who are 'used to dealing with the extremes of human emotions and catastrophe'. But they added: 'Even with decades of these experiences, we were still stunned into silence by the evidence that we received as independent chairs of the Board of Deputies Commission on Antisemitism, particularly from young people in the Jewish community.' 'This is an urgent issue not just for the Jewish community but for the United Kingdom as a whole,' the pair added. They also said: 'We are all harmed if we tolerate the abuse of some of our fellow citizens by those who hold warped or extreme views.' Their warnings of growing antisemitic prejudices across British society, from the NHS to arts organisations and the police, comes as the report they authored is set to be published on Tuesday. Among its recommendations are that the NHS should hold a summit to tackle the 'specific unaddressed issue of antisemitism' within the health service. Lord Mann and former defence secretary Dame Penny set out 10 recommendations calling for educators, public services and trade unions to do more to tackle antisemitism. Among them was a recommendation for every NHS trust to have 'basic training on contemporary antisemitism'. They stated: 'From evidence that we heard, we can identify that there is a specific unaddressed issue of antisemitism within the NHS. We recommend that a summit should be held with NHS leaders across the UK to begin to address this.' They noted an 'identifiable lack of consistency and capacity in antisemitism training' and recommended the creation of a specific antisemitism training qualification, adding that such training should be included within equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in organisations and institutions. Efforts to teach primary school teachers how to avoid passing on antisemitism and anti-Jewish tropes in their lessons should be rolled out in faith schools across the UK, the commission said. It added that professional organisations and trade unions should ensure that all Jewish members are treated equally and with respect, while there must be a consistent approach taken by police when dealing with antisemitic crimes. Dame Penny Mordaunt co-chaired the commission (Jacob King/PA) The commission said it had seen evidence of 'hidden barriers being put in front of Jewish involvement within the arts' and said there must always be a 'robust response for those who choose to discriminate and government at every level should ensure this'. Lord Mann said: 'It is unacceptable that the Jewish community has faced an onslaught of antisemitism since October 7th. 'Whilst this is not new, the commission heard shocking experiences that we will not ignore. Antisemitism is racism and it must be treated as such. We hope these recommendations will provide additional guidance and action for civil society.' Dame Penny said: 'No person should face abuse or discrimination whilst going about their business, whether it is pursuing the career of their choice or accessing public services. 'We wanted to suggest some very practical things that can be dealt with swiftly and will dramatically improve people's experiences.' Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg said: 'Overall, the challenge in civil society can be summarised as one of a failure to apply the protections rightly afforded to different vulnerable groups equally to Jewish people in the same positions. 'Many sectors promote strong Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) processes, which are very important, but too often, these protections seem to exclude Jews.' He said the board will insist that 'Jews must count' and will use the recommendations of the commission's report 'to ensure that they do'. An NHS spokesperson said: 'It is completely unacceptable for anyone to experience racism, discrimination or prejudice in the health service, whether staff or patient, and the NHS takes any instance of antisemitism or discrimination extremely seriously. 'The NHS provides care and treatment for everyone regardless of race, faith, or background and all NHS healthcare providers should have policies in place to address issues like this in the workplace.'
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Crazy golf trips, circus tickets and countless Amazon parcels: How cash-strapped councils are handing out gift cards and fun days to asylum seekers using taxpayer money
Taxpayers are footing the bill for boat migrants to go to the circus, play crazy golf and receive thousands of pounds worth of Amazon parcels. The lavish spending – unearthed by Nigel Farage 's new 'efficiency' audit of councils – also included thousands of pounds spent on gift cards, purchases from Currys and Argos, and takeaways. The findings, published exclusively in today's Mail on Sunday, come as a political row rages about the Government's new migrants return deal with France, which the Tories have dismissed as a 'gimmick'. The deal to return an expected 50 migrants a week to France was signed and announced by Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron on Thursday,. Mr Farage launched its Department of Local Government Efficiency (Dolge) – an echo of the 'Doge' set up by Elon Musk for Donald Trump in the US – in the wake of Reform's success in May's local elections. Its audit of Kent County Council (KCC), which it seized control of from the Tories, suggests a local authority struggling to cope with the burden of boat migrants landing on its shores from France – with 2,500 children alone entering its care system every year. The Reform audit shows that KCC's spending included £102.95 at Fortnum and Mason, paid out of the council's Social Fund, £162,077 at Amazon – including 2,966 transactions related to asylum seekers – £11,521 at Currys, £70,056 at Argos and £12,328 with Voucherline gift cards – all paid from migrant-related budgets, which the council then claimed back from central government. KCC also funds numerous days out for the child migrants: £279.91 was spent at the Santus Circus, £6,055 was spent at a local swimming pool and £55.50 at Mr Mulligans Crazy Golf. It also spent almost £300 on driving lessons. Kent Council said most of the spending highlighted was for unaccompanied asylum seeker children or asylum seekers aged between 18 and 25 who have left the care system but remain the responsibility of the council – known as 'care leavers'. In the year to June the council cared for 3,036 asylum-seeker children and supported 1,442 'care leavers'. Children who make the Channel crossing are initially taken into the care of KCC, with some later dispersed around the country. The auditors also found a £1,972 bill for an airline ticket from Virgin Atlantic, £5,793 worth of Domino's Pizzas and £1,127 at Pizza Express. It is unclear what the plane ticket was for, while the spending on pizzas related to children in care. In Nottinghamshire, the county council spent £38,007 on McDonald's and £7,143 on Domino's – 97 per cent of which was provided by the children/education budget – in addition to £2,185 at Nando's, £2,403 at Greggs, £6,676 at Costa Coffee and £2,407 at Starbucks. The local authority also spent £2,898 on Netflix subscriptions and £1,455 on Disney Plus. Doncaster spent £16,659 at McDonald's – 93 per cent came from the children/education budget – £5,907 at Greggs and £1,123 at Nando's – as well as £5,106 at Costa Coffee and £2,249 at Starbucks. Mr Farage's party won control of Kent in May's local elections, and within days sent in a unit to identify cost savings, including £40million by cutting spending on Net Zero projects. The Dolge team, which includes entrepreneur Arron Banks, was appointed by Zia Yusuf, head of Reform's department of government efficiency. Astonishingly, Dolge discovered that across Reform's councils, more than £118,000 had been spent on fast food and £10,000 on TV subscription services. The Reform audit shows that Kent Council Council spent £162,077 on asylum seekers at Amazon across 2,966 transactions - although the local authority said it included clothing and toiletries for asylum seeker children and helping older asylum seekers furnish their homes after turning 18 Writing in today's Mail on Sunday Mr Yusuf said: 'Asylum is already a heavy burden on the Treasury. The Home Office spent a record £5.38billion on asylum seekers in 2023-24 – up 36 per cent on the previous year. So to blow even a penny of that on crazy golf or skateboarding is a betrayal of the taxpayer.' The KCC figures throw a spotlight on the burden that children travelling alone across the Channel are putting on local authorities. An astonishing 7,380 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged were in council care across England last year, according to the Department of Education – up from 5,080 in 2020. This means almost 9 per cent of children in care are asylum seekers. Alp Mehmet of Migration Watch UK said the figures exposed the 'hidden costs of the uncontrolled asylum system'. 'Families are happy to pay for their children to come illegally because minors are accepted more readily and then looked after in the way that has been unearthed. In due course the rest of the family will be able to join them.' KCC last night defended its spending and stressed that offering entertainment activities helps integrate asylum seeker children and youngsters. It said its approach meant that 'incredibly low' levels of asylum seeker children went missing from care 'which reduced the opportunity of the children being exploited'. Its spending with Amazon included clothing and toiletries for asylum seeker children and helping older asylum seekers furnish their homes after turning 18, it said. It also stressed that it has a legal duty to ensure asylum seeker children and youngsters are given the same care as other young people. Doncaster council said spending on fast food, coffee shops and TV streaming subscription relates to children in care. The MoS understands the spending by Nottinghamshire County Council also relates to children in care.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
Who is Catherine Connolly and could she be Ireland's next president?
It should not have come as a surprise to President Higgins when his former party colleague announced her intentions to replace him in Aras an Uachtarain. Although the Galway West politicians never engaged in public spats, Catherine Connolly's refusal to comply with Labour's 'yes' position during the Nice Treaty referendum of 2002 created an awkward split between the pair. The outspoken critic and councillor of just three years was regarded as the heir apparent to Higgins, who was then one of Labour's most formidable forces. But she did not let her personal views get in the way of their relationship, which was evident in how Connolly reacted when her party snubbed the veteran politician and poet for the presidential nomination in 2004. 'I am not surprised but I am very, very disappointed,' she said at the time. 'I would be absolutely 100 per cent behind him [Higgins]. He would be a great candidate and would show great vision and leadership.' Their core left-wing principles remained largely the same, particularly when it came to opposing the war in Iraq. Connolly joined thousands of protesters in June 2004 against the use of Shannon airport as a transit stop for US troops. However, her patience with the Labour Party ran out when Higgins was put forward as their only candidate in Galway West at the 2007 general election. Growing up with 13 siblings, Connolly must have always had to fight for space, and concluded where there is room for one, there is always room for another. Pat Rabbitte, the Labour leader at the time, obviously did not share the same sentiment and ignored Connolly's signals that she would run as an independent if she were not selected. She stayed true to word and left the party, as did her sister Colette, who was a councillor in Galway West for 18 years. Born in 1957, Connolly grew up in the working-class area of Fursey Road, Shantalla, in Galway city. In 1970, the housing estate gained national attention when numerous residents targeted the home of a Traveller woman, Annie Furey, who was awarded the property by Galway Corporation. Connolly's eldest brother attended University College, Galway with Higgins. Her father was a skilled plasterer, while her grandfather from the Claddagh worked as a skipper. She has lived in the Claddagh with her husband, Brian McEnery, since the late 1980s and they have two adult sons together. In her time as a local representative, the barrister and clinical psychiatrist campaigned on local issues, particularly on the need for additional social homes. However, she did not escape a number of minor controversies. In May 2005, a 'blazing row' erupted in the chambers of Galway city council after Connolly, then mayor, claimed she was snubbed by the local soccer club Galway Hibernians. She took offence when Frank Fahey, a junior minister, was invited to turn the sod on the club's new all-weather pitch instead of her. However, councillor Michael Crowe told the chamber that the mayor had received two telephone calls of apology from the committee, acknowledging an error was made. He accused Connolly of rebuffing both apologies and being highly insulting to the people on the phone. • Irish presidential election candidates 2025 — who is up for it? 'As far as I am concerned, you would not treat a dog the way you treated those people last week … You made a holy disgrace of yourself,' Crowe said. He claimed that not only had Connolly refused to attend the function because she was not the 'star of the show', but she had stopped other councillors from going. Fellow councillor Declan McDonnell even went as far as accusing her of running a dictatorship when she refused to allow Crowe to make a statement. In her response, Connolly said she was appalled at Crowe's personal attack on her, along with his use of language. 'It's not about a club or a mayor being snubbed, it's about respect for the mayor's office,' she said. 'I think I am one of the most informal mayors to date and I rarely stand on protocol.' The council's €1,000-a-week spend on Connolly's transport needs as mayor was also a source of contention. Padraig Conneely, a local election candidate, revealed that a limo company had been paid €650 to drive Connolly to see Galway play Cork in the 2005 All-Ireland hurling final. Connolly said at the time that the only alternative transport was a taxi, which would have incurred further costs on the council. Although a popular figure, Connolly failed to gain one of the five seats up for grabs in Galway West during the 2007 general election. In 2011, she was described as the designated successor to Higgins, who had already voiced his intentions to run in the presidential election of 2011, but lost out by just 17 votes to Fine Gael's Seán Kyne. That result was made even more personally difficult for Connolly as her stepmother, Bridget, died during the count. Her father, Coleman, had died less than a year before, while her biological mother, Annie, died in 1965. When Connolly finally won a seat — on the 14th count — in 2016, her grievances against her former party were not forgotten, as she claimed Labour had 'lost its soul'. However, despite their chequered history, the party has invited Connolly to address its members next week as part of the presidential nominations process. Her priorities upon entering the Dail were health, the housing crisis, transport and repealing the eighth amendment. But in 2018, Connolly faced criticism after she travelled to Syria for a week with the independent TDs Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan, alongside others involved in the Ireland Palestine Solidarity campaign. She is likely to be questioned about the trip in future debates as it took place when the dictator Bashar al-Assad, an ally of President Putin, was in power. However, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Connolly called Putin a dictator 'with no respect for democracy'. Any state visits by President Trump may be an uncomfortable experience for all if the outspoken Gaeilgeoir proves victorious in November. 'If we have learnt anything it is … that there are countries we certainly cannot trust,' she said in February. 'America is one of those and England and France are others. What is behind their motivation is simply an arms industry, more war, ongoing war, normalising war and making huge profits. That needs to be called out over and over. 'The government is now using what Russia has done, while not calling out America. In the speech today Trump was called our friend, Trump who has trampled on international law, supporting Israel trampling on international law and reducing Gaza to nothing.' On the divisive issue of immigration, Connolly has long stood for upholding the rights of asylum seekers. She argued in the Dail last year that direct provision 'does not work', adding: 'It isolates people, creates a stigma and is inhuman … There are any number of reports and judgments telling us that this system is just wrong.' Calls to the independent TD went unanswered but last week, while speaking to Galway City Tribune, Connolly said: 'Yes, my mind is made up to run. I've support from across the spectrum, including the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and Solidarity, as well as a number of senators and others. Labour and Sinn Fein are still completing their own internal processes, which I fully respect. I'll be formally launching my campaign next week.' People Before Profit's steering committee officially agreed to endorse Connolly's presidential bid yesterday. 'Catherine Connolly is a popular, principled figure on the left and we are pleased that she has put herself forward as a candidate,' Paul Murphy, the PBP TD, said. 'It's very important to have a voice to succeed Michael D Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain who continues to advocate for an equal and inclusive society.' Earlier, the Social Democrats confirmed their backing for her, stating: 'Catherine has been a tireless advocate for progressive causes and we believe she would make an excellent president.'
