Welsh Language education bill clears first hurdle
A shake-up of Welsh language education cleared the first hurdle in the Senedd despite concerns about staff shortages, teachers’ workloads and the cost to schools. Senedd members unanimously agreed the general principles of the Welsh language bill, which was part of…
Waiting times and cuts make Powys patients feel like second-class citizens
Patients in Powys feel like second-class citizens due to longer waiting times and cuts by the cash-strapped health board will only worsen the problem, Senedd members warned. James Evans, who was appointed the Conservatives’ shadow health secretary last month,…
Port closure leaves North Wales ‘in Limbo’
One of Britain’s busiest ports will not fully reopen until at least March after being damaged during storm Darragh, leaving north Wales in “limbo”, the Senedd heard. Ken Skates, Wales transport secretary, confirmed one of the ferry berths at…
Welsh Conservative Leader resigns after narrowly surviving vote of no confidence
Andrew RT Davies announced his intention to stand down as leader of the Conservatives in the Senedd after narrowly surviving a vote of no confidence. Mr Davies won the vote among the Tory group, 9-7, but offered his resignation…
Senedd members express anger and fear over delayed flood warnings in Wales
Senedd members warned Wales failed to learn lessons from devastating floods in 2020, with serious shortcomings repeated as Storm Bert wrought havoc over the weekend. Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow climate change secretary, told the Senedd that hundreds of…
Tourism tax ‘ill thought out and unnecessary,’ warns Conservative Senedd members
Conservative Senedd members warned “ill thought out and unnecessary” plans for a tourism tax will make people think twice about holidaying in Wales. Peter Fox raised concerns about visitors being priced out after the Welsh Government unveiled a tourism bill,…
Disqualifying dishonest politicians ‘disproportionate and dangerous’
Drawing the courts into determining whether to disqualify dishonest politicians from the Senedd would be disproportionate and potentially dangerous, a committee heard. Azzurra Moores, policy lead at Full Fact, an independent fact-checking organisation, warned of political pointscoring as she…
Bullying in Welsh schools reaches record levels
Rates of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard. Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and…
Proposal to ban lying politicians from Senedd ‘wholly unrealistic’ barristers warn
A proposal to disqualify dishonest politicians from the Senedd is wholly unrealistic and could see the courts inundated with complaints, barristers warned. The Criminal Bar Association, which represents practising members in Wales and England, criticised calls to create an…
Rate of domestic violence in Wales ‘a national emergency’
Domestic violence against women and girls is the scourge of Wales and a national emergency, Senedd Members warned. Mabon ap Gwynfor said Welsh police reported more than 45,000 cases of domestic abuse in 2022/23 and almost 10,000 sexual offences…