Latest news with #WelshLabourGovernment
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Damning numbers show what people think of Welsh Labour in every part of Wales
More than half of people in Wales don't think the Welsh Labour Government is doing a good job for Wales. Pollsters Beaufort asked people "Do you think the Welsh Labour Government is doing a good job for Wales". Of the 1,000 people just 29% believe they are doing a good job. The responses showed 57% thought they were not, with 29% answering yes, and 15% said they didn't know. The polling showed slight differences depending on where people were. People in north and mid Wales (Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy, Anglesey, Gwynedd, Powys, Ceredigion) were more likely to think the Welsh Labour government was doing a poor job (60% answered no). For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. READ MORE: Police confirm why M4 was closed in both directions READ MORE: Police issue statement about Welsh hotel to 'dispel rumours' Those in south west Wales and Valleys (Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent) were in the middle - with 56% answering no, while in Cardiff and south east Wales (Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Monmouthshire, Newport) Labour had more support (33%) although more of those questioned (54%) said no. Slightly more men than women answered "no" in response to the question, and in terms of ages, those aged over 55 were much more likely to feel Labour was not doing a good job than those aged between 16 and 34 (with 66% of older people answering no compared to 42% of the younger age group). Those was an almost even split among 16 to 34s between those saying Labour is doing a good job in government in Wales and those saying they're not (at 40% and 42% respectively of this age group). Older people were the most negative, with 66% of the over 55s saying they are not doing a good job, compared to 22% saying the reverse. The next Senedd election is taking place in May 2026. So far, all relevant polls show Labour is in for a fight to keep its place as the dominant party. The next election will be fought on new constituencies, with a new voting system and will result in 96 Senedd members elected rather than 60. Polling is consistently showing Labour could come third behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK. Labour is projected to get around 18% however their rivals, from both sides of the political spectrum, are polling in the high 20s or even 30% mark. Welsh Labour leader, and First Minister, Eluned Morgan, has repeatedly admitted she thinks Reform UK is a threat to her party. Polling also shows Reform UK could be a threat to Labour at a general election. in June, pollster YouGov has asked people across the UK how they would vote in a general election, and in Wales it shows Reform would take 21 of the 32 seats in Wales. The poll showed in 2024, Labour won a historic 172-seat majority but the poll projects they would not only lose their majority, falling to 178 but become the second party by some distance.
Leader Live
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
MS for Wrexham explains the School Essentials Grant
MS for Wrexham Lower-income families in Wrexham could be entitled to up to £200 to help with essentials like school uniform, shoes, bags, stationery, sports kit and equipment. It's thanks to the Welsh Labour Government's School Essentials Grant and applications are now open for the upcoming academic year starting in September. Eligible families can apply for a grant of £125 per child per year. Families with children entering year 7 can apply for £200 to help with increased costs associated with starting secondary school. Times are tough and rising living costs are taking their toll on many families who are constantly budgeting. This grant could be a real lifeline, reducing financial pressures and helping ensure pupils have the necessary equipment to attend and enjoy school. Approximately £62.5m has been spent since the scheme was introduced in 2018, and over 170,000 families have been helped in the last two years alone. Even if your child already receives Universal Primary Free School Meals, it is still important to check your eligibility. To find out more, visit the Schools Essentials Grant website. The 2025 to 2026 scheme is currently open and will close on 31st May 2026. Teams4U is a charity close to my heart and it is holding a fantastic family fun day at the Croes Howell pub in Wrexham this Saturday (19 July). There will be fun and games for the whole family and the event is being hosted by Gemma Hunt from CBeebies' pirate-themed show, Swashbuckle! Tickets cost £4 per person and there are two sessions taking place, with one starting at 10am and the other at 1:30pm. All the money raised will go towards a very worthy cause and the fun day promises to be the perfect way to start the summer holidays! Finally, many congratulations to local author, Samantha Maxwell, who recently organised an excellent 'Cake & Tea for CP' bake sale. It was a lovely event and, in total, Samantha managed to raise almost £600 for Cerebral Palsy Cymru. As always, if you're a constituent in Wrexham and there is an issue I could help you with, please contact me via email: or call 01978 355743. You can also keep up to date by following me on 'X' (Twitter) and Facebook, just search @lesley4wrexham.
South Wales Argus
29-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
New fund launched to help improve towns across Wales
The Tidy Towns Fund, announced by First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno on Saturday, June 28, will provide £5 million to support improvements in cities, towns, and villages throughout the country. Ms Morgan said: "When our surroundings feel cared for, we feel cared for too and our new Tidy Towns Fund is a direct investment this year in the places we call home. "Tidy Towns is about more than just bricks and mortar. "It's about belonging and pride of place, because when a town centre feels alive, a street is tidy or a park is looked after, pride in our places means pride in ourselves." The funding will be distributed to all local authorities in Wales and could be used for a range of projects, including footpath repairs, replacing signage, refurbishing bus shelters, and maintaining street furniture. Other potential uses include litter removal, clearing fly-tipping, tidying overgrown areas, and painting community murals. The fund builds on the Welsh Labour Government's ongoing investment in community spaces. Since 2015, the £63 million Communities Facilities Programme has supported the creation, improvement, or preservation of more than 450 community spaces across Wales. It also complements the existing £100 million Transforming Towns programme, which focuses on bringing underused or derelict properties back into use as businesses, housing, leisure facilities, commercial space, or community hubs.
Wales Online
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Welsh Language Commissioner sets out five priorities in manifesto ahead of Senedd election
Welsh Language Commissioner sets out five priorities in manifesto ahead of Senedd election Efa Gruffudd Jones is calling on all political parties to adopt the proposals Efa Gruffudd Jones believes the forthcoming Senedd term will be pivotal for the language (Image: Welsh Language Commissioner ) The Welsh Language Commissioner has unveiled a manifesto, setting out key priorities she hopes all political parties will commit to ahead of the 2026 Senedd Cymru election. In the manifesto, unveiled on Friday, June 20, Efa Gruffudd Jones said she wanted to see an increase in the number of Welsh language services available to the public and establish a specialist unit to increase the use of the language in workplaces. Despite acknowledging the financial pressures organisations are under, Jones said she had identified five areas of focus that could make a "real difference to strengthening the position of the Welsh language". The proposals come as the current Welsh Labour Government have set out a target to reach one million Welsh speakers by 2050. However, according to the last census (2021), the number of people in Wales aged three and above who consider themselves to be Welsh speakers stands at 538,000 - 17.8% of the population, which is actually down 24,000 since the previous census (2011). Read more in our report on Welsh beyond the numbers However, the Welsh Language Commissioner believes the forthcoming Senedd term will be pivotal for the language. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here . Efa Gruffudd Jones said: "My ambition as Commissioner goes beyond a narrow interpretation of what is expected of me and set out in the Welsh Language Measure, and I am keen to lead a body that does more and contributes more significantly to wider language planning work. Article continues below "As a result this manifesto calls for action and guidance from the Welsh Government, whatever its political makeup, and support to facilitate the work of other key partners, including the Welsh Language Commissioner. "The next few years are extremely important for the Welsh language as the Welsh Language and Education Bill is delivered and as the recommendations of the Commission for Welsh-speaking Communities are implemented. "I am fully aware of the pressures on our public bodies and that is the reason for setting out five specific priorities in this manifesto. "They follow the path outlined in our strategic plan and I am convinced that these are areas where difference can be made in the use of the language. "We will now look to have discussions with the parties in order to present our manifesto and our rationale for setting out our priorities. "The hope is that the parties will be ready to adopt our proposals and for those to be adopted before the election next year." Article continues below The five priorities outlined in the manifesto are as follows: Language duties - increase the number of Welsh language services available to the public by extending Welsh language standards to priority areas. Community language planning – extend the Commissioner's influence by strengthening the promotion standards as a framework for the co-ordination of intensive community language planning. Workplaces - establish a specialist unit in the Welsh Language Commissioner's office to increase the use of Welsh in workplaces. Health and clinical care service - transform clinical care in Welsh through intensive investment and action in priority areas. The education workforce - establish a five-year Welsh language training framework as a mandatory element of training as a teacher in Wales.
Pembrokeshire Herald
01-06-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Single-use vapes banned across Wales from Sunday
A NATIONWIDE ban on single-use vapes will come into force across Wales and the rest of the UK from Sunday (June 1), in a bid to tackle the environmental damage caused by their widespread use and improper disposal. The move is part of a coordinated effort between the Welsh Labour Government and the UK Labour Government to implement the ban simultaneously across borders. The aim is to improve compliance and give the estimated 2,000 small- and medium-sized retailers in Wales time to adapt. Environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy estimates that in a single year, 360,000 disposable vapes are littered on the ground in Wales, with a further 120,000 flushed down the toilet. The Welsh Government says the ban is a key part of its response to the climate and nature emergency, putting environmental protection at the heart of policy. First Minister Eluned Morgan said: 'Littering from single-use vapes spoils our communities, and we have worked closely with the UK and devolved governments to ensure there are no loopholes, with the ban coming into effect UK-wide this weekend. 'This is another example of governments working together to deliver on the priorities of the people of Wales.' Deputy First Minister and Minister for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: 'Single-use vapes are a blight on wildlife and the environment. This ban will significantly reduce the litter and pollution they cause. 'This is further evidence of Welsh Labour's commitment to tackling the climate emergency and maintaining Wales's status as the second-best recycling nation in the world.' Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, added: 'This ban will also help protect children and young people from nicotine addiction. It's a vital step towards our goal of Iechyd Da—better health—for all.' Meanwhile, in last year's Parliamentary debate on single-use vapes, Reform UK's Nigel Farage was notably absent, choosing instead to host his television programme. Welsh Labour accused him of prioritising media attention and 'fantasy economics' over delivering meaningful change.
