Latest news with #PortTalbot
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Keir Starmer accuses Nigel Farage of ‘taking people for fools' in Wales
Keir Starmer has used his keynote speech at the Welsh Labour conference to launch an attack on Nigel Farage, as the prime minister turned from fighting off a rebellion of his own MPs, to fighting off the threat of Reform. Starmer said Farage was 'taking people for fools' in Wales, and criticised the Reform leader's recent visit to Port Talbot, during which he demanded the reopening of Welsh coalmines to provide fuel for the town's now shuttered steelmaking blast furnaces. 'Just look what he said … pretending he has a plan to reopen a blast furnace. Nigel Farage isn't interested in Wales. He is interested in Nigel Farage,' Starmer said. The prime minister also warned of a 'backroom stitch-up' between Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and Reform UK before the Senedd elections next May that he said would mark a 'return to the chaos and division of the last decade'. Starmer's appearance came amid an escalating crisis for the government over it's unpopular welfare bill. Number 10 is still battling to win support for the changes among its own MPs with claims that hastily announced concessions will create a 'two-tier' system where existing and new claimants of disability benefits are treated differently. Acknowledging the row in his speech, Starmer said 'everyone agrees' the welfare system needed to be fixed. He said: 'We cannot take away the safety net that vulnerable people rely on, and we won't, but we also can't let it become a snare for those who can and want to work. 'Everyone agrees that our welfare system is broken: failing people every day, a generation of young people written off for good and the cost spiralling out of control. 'Fixing it is a moral imperative, but we need to do it in a Labour way.' In Wales, polls suggest Labour, which has led every Welsh government since devolution, will come in third place, and Reform UK could be the biggest party. Plaid Cymru has repeatedly ruled out working with either the Conservatives or Reform UK in next year's Senedd. 'Labour has had decades to deliver for Wales,' a Plaid Cymru spokesperson said in response to Starmer's comments. 'If this is Labour's big pitch to the people of Wales, then frankly, they're scraping the barrel. Instead of offering hope, they're peddling fiction about imaginary coalitions.' The prime minister also sought to downplay signs of infighting between the Westminster and Cardiff Bay governments, telling delegates that the two Labour administrations are 'working together for the people of Wales', and praising the first minister, Eluned Morgan, as a 'fierce champion' and the 'the best person' to lead the country into the future. Last month Morgan made a public attempt to distance her leadership from her Westminster counterpart's, using a speech to criticise the UK government's plans to cut winter fuel payments and disability benefits, which she said would 'harm Welsh communities'. Westminster has since rowed back on both policies, the latter after more than 120 Labour MPs threatened a rebellion. Labour Senedd members have privately said they are shocked that only five Welsh Labour MPs had said they would vote against the bill, despite research showing it will disproportionately affect people in Wales. Morgan is expected to call the next Senedd election a 'moment of reckoning' later on Saturday. Starmer made the case that the Westminster and Cardiff Labour governments were delivering for Wales, pointing to the largest ever devolution settlement for Wales, new investment zones in Wrexham and Cardiff, freeports in Anglesey and Port Talbot, and record funding for Wales's railways and clearing coal tips in this month's spending review. 'This first year was about clearing up the mess the Tories left. Now our focus is firmly on the future,' he said. Also on Saturday, the secretary of state for Wales, Jo Stevens, announced at the conference a new £11m fund for businesses in the Port Talbot area.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Nigel Farage ‘not interested in Wales', Starmer claims
Sir Keir Starmer has said Reform leader Nigel Farage 'isn't interested in Wales' and has no viable plan for Port Talbot's blast furnaces. Speaking at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno, the Prime Minister described the Reform UK leader as a 'wolf in Wall Street clothing'. 'When you ask him about Clacton, he thinks he's running in the 2.10 at Ascot,' Sir Keir joked. Mr Farage has said his party wants to restart Port Talbot's blast furnaces but Sir Keir said the Reform leader has 'no idea what he's talking about', when it comes to the furnaces, and has 'no plan at all'. Port Talbot's remaining blast furnaces were shut down in September, with a new electric arc furnace being built in their place. Reform is looking to end Labour's 26 years of domination at the Senedd elections in May next year. Labour performed poorly in this year's local elections in England, which saw Nigel Farage's party win a swathe of council seats. Taking aim at Mr Farage, Sir Keir said the Clacton MP is 'a wolf in Wall Street clothing'. 'Reform claimed to be the party of patriotism while sucking up to Putin and abusing our armed forces online. 'They say they're the party of workers while they vote against workers' rights, intending to charge people to use the NHS and plan unfunded tax cuts for billionaires.' Sir Keir also said any deal between the Tories, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru at next year's key elections in Wales would amount to a 'backroom stitch-up'. The elections to the Senedd will use a proportional system for the first time, meaning coalitions are likely. The Prime Minister said it would risk a 'return to the chaos and division of the last decade' and risk rolling back the progress his party is starting to make. It would be 'working families left to pick up the bill', he added. 'Whether that's with Reform or with Plaid's determination to cut Wales off from the rest of the country, with no plan to put Wales back together,' he said. 'I know that these are the parties that talk a big game, but who is actually delivering?' Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out making deals with Plaid Cymru or Reform at the next Senedd election. Farmers gathered outside the conference to protest ahead of Sir Keir's speech, with about 20 tractors parked on the promenade in the north Wales resort town by late morning.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nigel Farage ‘not interested in Wales', Starmer claims
Sir Keir Starmer has said Reform leader Nigel Farage 'isn't interested in Wales' and has no viable plan for Port Talbot's blast furnaces. Speaking at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno, the Prime Minister described the Reform UK leader as a 'wolf in Wall Street clothing'. 'When you ask him about Clacton, he thinks he's running in the 2.10 at Ascot,' Sir Keir joked. Mr Farage has said his party wants to restart Port Talbot's blast furnaces but Sir Keir said the Reform leader has 'no idea what he's talking about', when it comes to the furnaces, and has 'no plan at all'. Port Talbot's remaining blast furnaces were shut down in September, with a new electric arc furnace being built in their place. Reform is looking to end Labour's 26 years of domination at the Senedd elections in May next year. Labour performed poorly in this year's local elections in England, which saw Nigel Farage's party win a swathe of council seats. Taking aim at Mr Farage, Sir Keir said the Clacton MP is 'a wolf in Wall Street clothing'. 'Reform claimed to be the party of patriotism while sucking up to Putin and abusing our armed forces online. 'They say they're the party of workers while they vote against workers' rights, intending to charge people to use the NHS and plan unfunded tax cuts for billionaires.' Sir Keir also said any deal between the Tories, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru at next year's key elections in Wales would amount to a 'backroom stitch-up'. The elections to the Senedd will use a proportional system for the first time, meaning coalitions are likely. The Prime Minister said it would risk a 'return to the chaos and division of the last decade' and risk rolling back the progress his party is starting to make. It would be 'working families left to pick up the bill', he added. 'Whether that's with Reform or with Plaid's determination to cut Wales off from the rest of the country, with no plan to put Wales back together,' he said. 'I know that these are the parties that talk a big game, but who is actually delivering?' Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out making deals with Plaid Cymru or Reform at the next Senedd election. Farmers gathered outside the conference to protest ahead of Sir Keir's speech, with about 20 tractors parked on the promenade in the north Wales resort town by late morning.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
One of Wales' best burger restaurants announce opening date in Cardiff
One of south Wales's most loved burger restaurants is opening a new location in Cardiff. Burger Boyz has announced it will be arriving in the capital on Friday, July 18. It will be located at Cowbridge Road east in the Canton area of the city, within the same unit Ansh once traded. The business was launched by school mates Marcin Sadlos and Jack Phillips back in 2021, who quit their full-time jobs in the engineering industry after finding success pursuing a career in the culinary world, first buying a food truck, before taking over the kitchen at The Red Lion pub in Port Talbot. They went on to secure a spot at Newport Market, before going on to open a restaurant in Port Talbot, and are also based at Albert Hall in Swansea. For the latest restaurant reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here. They also bought a food truck which is used to attend events, called The Truck Norris, named after its best-selling burger the Chuck Norris. The truck has had a presence at Bridgend designer outlet for the last year. Speaking ahead of the opening of their new location, Mr Sadlos said: "It's an exciting time. Cardiff is a site that we've wanted to open for a while now. "We were looking for the right opportunity. "When Ansh decided to close, we got in touch with the landlords and decided to take it over." The restaurant's menu consists of seven different burgers, along with loaded fries and sides, and has gained a great reputation for the quality of its food. We tried it ourselves. You can read about that by clicking here. It has been visited by professional competitive eaters at its Port Talbot restaurant, including Randy Santel, Katina Eats Kilos, Joel Hansen (modelvsfood) and Leah Shutkever. Mr Sadlos added: "We are going to be serving the same menu that people are used to, and we are actually working on developing a little prep kitchen where we can bring in some smoked meats and some more American-style barbecue items. "That will be for down the line and not for opening. "It will be a few months down the line once we have settled." Get Cardiff news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions, and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice.
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer to warn of ‘backroom stitch-up' in Welsh elections
Sir Keir Starmer will warn of a 'backroom stitch-up' between the Tories, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru ahead of key elections in Wales next year. In a speech to the Welsh Labour conference, the Prime Minister is set to say that a coalition of those parties would be a 'return to the chaos and division of the last decade' and risk rolling back the progress his party is starting to make. Welsh First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan meanwhile will call next year's polls a 'moment of reckoning' and 'serious threat' as Reform UK is 'rising' and Plaid Cymru 'mobilising'. And Labour will announce funding to help those made redundant by the Tata Steel closure in Port Talbot. Reform UK is eyeing an opportunity to end Labour's 26 years of domination in the Welsh Parliament at the Senedd elections in May next year. Labour performed poorly in this year's local elections in England, which saw Nigel Farage's party win a swathe of council seats. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out making deals with Plaid Cymru or Reform at the next Senedd election. Welsh Labour leader Baroness Morgan will say the election is not going to be a 'routine affair'. She will add: 'It will be a moment of reckoning. Reform are rising. Plaid are mobilising. And across the country, people are asking big, serious questions about the kind of future they want for Wales. 'This is not a moment to look away. This is the moment to look forward – a moment of maximum opportunity and, yes, also of serious threat. It's time to stand up. It's time to get involved.' 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. Ahead of marking a year in office next week, Sir Keir will point to moves his Government has made since the election that he says bring direct benefits to Wales, including international trade deals that give a boost to brands such as Penderyn whisky and legislation to bolster workers' rights. Wales Secretary Jo Stevens is set to announce a new £11 million fund for businesses offering skilled employment in Port Talbot as it seeks to help those left unemployed by Tata Steel's closure of the steelworks. The fund is made up of £6.78 million from the Government and £5 million from Tata Steel. 'The Tories abandoned our steelworkers. Reform want to cancel the Electric Arc Furnace, throw away 5,000 jobs, and send people back down the mines. 'We have the backs of our steelworkers, their families and local businesses,' Ms Stevens will say. Sir Keir will tout the advantages of having parallel Labour governments in Westminster and Wales, with Baroness Morgan leading the latter as a 'fierce champion'. 'This is the party that has got wages rising faster in the first 10 months than the Tories managed in 10 years. This is the government that is cutting bills and creating jobs. This is the movement that will rebuild Britain and renew Wales,' Sir Keir is expected to say. Labour is the party with the 'interests of working people at their heart' and 'it always will be', he will say. 'Or, there's the other option. The risk of rolling back all the progress we're beginning to make. A return to the chaos and division of the last decade. 'A backroom stitch-up between the Tories, Reform and Plaid. And once again, it will be working families left to pick up the bill. 'Whether that's with Reform, or with Plaid's determination to cut Wales off from the rest of the country – with no plan to put Wales back together.' The Conservatives have said that Labour has 'let Wales down for far too long'. Shadow Welsh secretary Mims Davies said: 'Divisions between a complacent Welsh Labour and Starmer's failing UK Government in Westminster have simply not improved Wales's outlook, despite the fabled benefit of two Labour Governments in Wales, which is absolute bunkum.' She also added: 'Labour has let Wales down for too long, taken people for granted and now the PM is making a mess of the entire United Kingdom.'
