Wales’ Eluned Morgan invites Plaid for help to pass budget

Eluned Morgan’s comments came about after Heledd Fychan, finance spokesperson for Plaid Cymru, complained about cuts to the Welsh Books Council.

She said the WBC had stated its funding had fallen by 40% in real terms in the past ten years. A number of publishers such as Yr Lolfa, she said, were unsure whether they could continue to operate.

In response, Eluned Morgan said there were financial pressures on the government.

“Like many other areas of the budget we did see cuts in order to ensure that we do provide that funding to safeguard things such as health.

“Now there is an invitation to you to have discussions with us. There is perhaps good reason for you to have those discussions with us. If this is important to you, perhaps you could help us with the budget.”

Plaid Cymru was in a co-operative agreement with Welsh Labour ministers until the summer, when the party ended the deal early.

At the weekend Jane Dodds told BBC Radio Wales’ Sunday Supplement programme: “We are all in talks with them.”

Asked what she would want from an potential deal, Dodds said she wanted to see more money given to councils for social care, more funding for childcare to tackle child poverty, and more “green jobs”.

Her comments came as news broke of a report from 2021 that criticised her handling of a sexual abuse case when she worked for the Church of England.

UK Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said she should reflect on her position, but Dodds refused to resign. She is the party’s only Member of the Senedd (MS).