UK Labour created hostile environment, says Plaid

The UK Labour government has created a “hostile welfare environment” because of potential cuts to benefits, Plaid Cymru has said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the current system unsustainable and changes are expected in the coming weeks.

During Senedd First Minister’s Questions on Tuesday, Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth accused the first minister of “defending the indefensible” and refusing to criticise her own party over planned and previous cuts.

Eluned Morgan said Plaid “bottled it” by voting against last week’s Welsh government budget, which allocated £1.5bn more than originally expected to Welsh public services.

Citing cuts made at Westminster to winter fuel payments, the continuation of the two-child cap for certain benefits and the planned welfare cuts, ap Iorwerth said “it’s always defend, defend, defend”.

“You’re defending the indefensible week after week,” he said, asked the first minister if she supported cuts to welfare to save money.

Morgan responded by asking why Plaid Cymru had voted against last week’s budget.

“If you want to ask questions that are relevant to Westminster you should have gone to Westminster,” she added.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has earmarked several billion pounds in draft spending cuts to welfare and other government departments ahead of the Spring Statement, which takes place on 26 March.

Welfare changes likely to be announced in the coming days include restrictions on eligibility for the Personal Independent Payment, which provides help with extra living costs to those with a long-term physical or mental health condition, and cuts to incapacity benefits for people unable to work and receiving universal credit.

Some Labour MPs are concerned about the cuts, but the Get Britain Working group of 36 Members of Parliament has said the government has a “moral duty” to help long-term sick and disabled people to work if they can.