'Undoubtedly difficult choices'

MS for Wrexham

Earlier this month, Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford highlighted the significant financial pressures facing the Welsh Government in the coming months and years.

When outlining the budget for 2023-24, the Welsh Government drew on all its available resources to protect frontline services and provide targeted cost-of-living support to individuals and the economy.

But even after doing all that, Wales’ financial position after the UK Spring Budget in March was up to £900m lower in real terms than expected – and what the UK Government said Wales needed – at the time of the last spending review in 2021.

Years of Tory mismanagement at Westminster coupled with sky-high inflation means not only is there less funding available to do all the things the Welsh Government has to do, there is less money to do the things it wants to do.

Unfortunately, we are all worse off after thirteen years of Tory mis-rule. After a decade of austerity left public services fragile, a botched Brexit and the disastrous Liz Truss mini-budget made matters worse. We are left with record inflation, rocketing mortgage rates and a cost-of-living crisis.

Work is taking place over the summer analysing where spending can be delayed or deferred, reprioritised or reduced. There are undoubtedly difficult choices to make but the Welsh Labour Government will continue to do everything in its power to protect frontline public services and target support towards those with the greatest needs.

Welsh Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Wrexham, Andrew Ranger and I recently caught up with WeMindTheGap CEO, Ali Wheeler, to find out how their ‘Big Conversation’ initiative is progressing.

Created by Moneypenny co-founder, Rachel Clacher, WeMindTheGap helps disadvantaged young people between the ages of 16 – 25 by delivering programmes that help them gain new skills and experiences.

The charity is transforming people’s lives for the better, creating invaluable opportunities for young people who need it most.

As always, if you’re a constituent in Wrexham and there is something I could help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me via email: lesley.griffiths@senedd.wales or call 01978 355743. You can also keep up to date by following me on Twitter and Facebook, just search @lesley4wrexham.