Ken Skates MS on Plaid Cymru Government not passing budget

This isn’t the outcome we wanted, but it’s clear that the funding offered for additional learning needs simply wasn’t enough.

This is about fighting for the best possible deal for our schools and children and young people with additional learning needs, and we cannot settle for less than they deserve.

We welcome much of the funding proposed in this supplementary budget, particularly for reducing NHS waiting lists, and we want to see that extra funding delivered.

But we are only two thirds of the way through Plaid’s first 100 days, and it became apparent before the vote that the Government is already in formal dispute with two teaching unions. This is unprecedented. The teaching unions have made clear that funding for ALN is a major factor in this dispute.

We urged the Plaid Cymru Government to withdraw their supplementary budget, negotiate with the teaching unions, and bring back another supplementary budget in the summer with more investment for additional learning needs.

It’s unfortunate that this was not the approach they took, but there’s still time to negotiate and bring back new proposals.

It is important to point out that there wasn't a penny on the table for additional learning needs until Welsh Labour fought for it.

The pressure on our schools is enormous. Schools, teachers, and teaching unions have made clear – and council leaders of all political colours have made clear – the urgent need of funding for additional learning needs.

What Plaid were asking for was for us to compromise on what’s best for children and young people. They are asking for us to settle for less than what we know vulnerable children and young people need.

We are disappointed that the Plaid Cymru Government is now threatening not to put any funding towards ALN if this budget does not pass. This is quite frankly irresponsible. Plaid should not be playing politics with the lives of vulnerable children and young people.

Let me be clear. We are not voting with Reform, and we are not voting with the Conservatives. We are voting for vulnerable children and young people with additional learning needs in our firm belief that they deserve more.

In 27 years of successive Welsh Labour governments, we managed to pass every budget. We recognised the need to negotiate and work collaboratively with other political parties. No one party has ever had a monopoly on good ideas.

It is Plaid Cymru’s failure that they have so far been unable to do the same. The process has been chaotic, and what we’re seeing is the result of Plaid being unprepared and their plans being uncosted.

The First Minister’s claim that there are hundreds of millions of pounds in overspend is pure fiction – the last Welsh Labour government left more than half a billion pounds for the next government to allocate. I’m afraid it’s nothing more than an attempt to mask the fact that Plaid Cymru came into government unprepared – and with an uncosted manifesto.