Members of Senedd Call for Lifelong Blue Badges in Wales for People with Permanent Disabilities
Senedd members have called for lifelong blue badges for people with permanent conditions, labelling the current renewal system as unfair, stressful and potentially discriminatory. Carolyn Thomas, the Labour Senedd member for North Wales, expressed concerns about people being forced to…
Senedd Hears Calls to Protect Bronglais Stroke Unit Amid Fears of Downgrade
Politicians have debated calls to safeguard full stroke services at Bronglais Hospital after more than 17,000 people signed one of the biggest petitions in the Senedd’s 26-year history. Campaigners urged the Senedd and Welsh Government to intervene immediately to protect…
Welsh Gov Accused of Hypocrisy Over NHS Transparency Drive
The Welsh Government has been accused of hypocrisy over a new NHS transparency drive, with opposition Senedd members challenging ministers to lead by example. Jeremy Miles, Wales’ health secretary, unveiled plans to live stream public accountability meetings every year with…
Deputy First Minister Under Fire Over ‘Political Fix’ on Greyhound Racing Ban
The deputy first minister has insisted plans to ban greyhound racing are not linked to a budget deal, despite being confronted with evidence it was part of the agreement. During a tense evidence session on Monday (October 20), Huw…
Vaughan Gething among Senedd Members who failed to attend evidence session over Hafod Landfill
An evidence session was cancelled after four of the five politicians who sit on a Senedd committee were unable to attend, leaving the Welsh Parliament no choice but to postpone the meeting. The Senedd’s petitions committee was due to meet…
Extended shutdown of Tata Steel sites brings ‘catastrophic’ pay cuts to Steelworkers
Steelworkers are facing “catastrophic” pay cuts of more than a third over Christmas due to an extended shutdown at three Tata Steel sites in Wales, the Senedd has heard. David Rees, who chairs the Senedd’s cross-party group on steel, warned…
‘A Frightening Time for Minorities’: Senedd Urged to Confront Rising Hate in Wales
Hatred towards minority groups is becoming “frighteningly” commonplace and “acceptable to some” in Welsh society, a Plaid Cymru Senedd member warned. Sioned Williams cautioned Wales faces deep divisions fomented by hatred whether rooted in racism, religious intolerance, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia…
National Library on High Alert over Cyber Attacks
Wales’ digital treasures, viewed more than 1.5 billion times, face a threat similar to the “catastrophic” cyber attack that left part of the British Library’s website offline for two years. The stark warning came from Rhodri Llwyd Morgan, chief executive…
Welsh Gov rejects calls for new law to protect historic place names
The Welsh Government has rejected calls for a new law to protect historic place names, arguing goodwill and current initiatives are already working. Favouring persuasion rather than enforcement, Mark Drakeford unveiled a four-point plan including guidance for councils and…
Conservatives call fo tax cuts to boost Welsh economy
The Conservatives have called for tax cuts to boost the Welsh economy but Labour ministers warned the “unfunded” plan would blow a £669m hole in the budget. Samuel Kurtz, the Tory shadow economy secretary, called for a 1p cut…