Tories rule-out deal with Plaid ministers for first big budget test

During First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) on Tuesday, Reform leader Dan Thomas asked Rhun ap Iorwerth whether he was willing to work with Reform.

Thomas claimed it was “clear from the initial reaction from all the opposition parties that, if voting matches the rhetoric, the government will not have support for its supplementary budget, and it will not go through”.

“So will the first minister disclose if you are having any talks with other political parties, if there are any areas of compromise within the supplementary budget and whether you’d be willing to work with Reform?”

Ap Iorwerth explained that he was willing to have conversations with “leaders of Reform, Conservatives, Labour and the Green Party.”

He recognised his government would help from other parties, calling on members to support measures to bring down waiting lists in the NHS.

Conservative sources said that no discussions have taken place between its group- led by Darren Millar – and the EWelsh government.

Dan Thomas said that Reform’s red lines would be to guarantee all student nurses and midwives a job and increase spending on children with additional learning needs, as well as stopping all Welsh government spending overseas.

Plaid Cymru Finance Minister Elin Jones has announced £294m in new spending in her supplementary budget, with £40m to go on repairs to schools, £55m on childcare, and £100m for waiting times.

The Welsh government has extra money as a consequence of money spent by the UK government, used to pay off the debts of English councils built up through supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

Opposition parties have called for that cash to be spent similarly in Wales, on what are referred to as additional learning needs here.