LABOUR ‘DELETE’ CALL TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY

Welsh Government statistics published this week show that child poverty has risen by 2% to 31% in Wales, the highest rise of all UK nations. However, ahead of a Plaid Cymru debate in the Senedd on April 2nd 2025, where they will call on the Welsh Government to implement a child payment, the Labour Welsh Government have deleted the calls in their amendment to the original motion.

 

Instead, the Welsh Government have focused once again on a ‘commitment…to engage with the Scottish Government to better understand the Scottish Child Payment and how it operates’ despite this having been a matter of discussion for a number of years in Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru Social Justice spokesperson Sioned Williams has criticised the Government’s decision to delete the call, accusing Labour of ‘stalling’ and ‘refusing to take direct action on tackling child poverty’ calling it out as a ‘national stain’.

 

This comes in the same week as the UK Labour Government announcement to cut almost £5 billion in welfare spending, a decision that will push a further 50,000 children into poverty across England and Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru announced a direct child payment to tackle child poverty in their Spring Conference in Llandudno last week. The payment will ‘boost support by putting money in the pockets of those struggling’.

 

A similar scheme in Scotland has had a transformative impact on child poverty, helping Scotland become the only nation in the UK where child poverty levels are expected to decrease.

 

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Social Justice, Sioned Williams MS, said:

 

“Labour are failing our children and young people as the Government’s own figures released this week show.  Not only is child poverty growing in Wales, but it is growing at the fastest rate of all UK nations. This is the result of 25 years of Labour inaction in getting to grips with the national stain that is child poverty.

 

“Their choice to ‘delete’ Plaid Cymru’s calls to implement a child payment is just another example of their refusal to take direct action on tackling child poverty. How long will Labour be content to talk around the issue when the actions needed are known and proven.

 

“Plaid Cymru has real, ambitious, tangible solutions to tackle child poverty. In Government we will take action to support the 31% of children that are currently growing up in poverty, living in households which are struggling to make ends meet, by implementing a child payment.

 

“While Labour are happy to stall, Plaid Cymru will act. While Labour chooses to cut almost £5 billion in support to the most vulnerable, Plaid Cymru look to boost support by putting money in the pockets of those struggling. While Labour are happy continuing with the status quo, Plaid Cymru offer a fresh start.”

 

- ENDS -