Plaid Cymru have accused the First Minister of having no influence on Number Ten Downing Street after a heated session of the Senedd’s Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister on Friday, March 28th.
During the session, the First Minister revealed that she could not remember the name of the individual she had spoken with at number ten when discussing UK Labour’s cuts to welfare spending.
The First Minister also stated that she was ‘reserving judgement’ on said changes to welfare spending, despite the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens claiming that she had written to the UK Government in support of the cuts.
The First Minister wished to ‘reserve judgement’ until a Welsh impact assessment had been made. The Welsh Government have contacted the UK Government with this request over a week ago, and as of yet have received no reply.
In response to the session, Plaid Cymru MS and member of the committee, Llŷr Gruffydd said:
“Some of the First Minister's comments in committee this morning were quite frankly jaw-dropping. She said she was 'reserving judgement' before taking a stance on Labour's welfare changes, but the Secretary of State for Wales says that the First Minister has already supported the cuts.
"She went on to admit that the conversations she had with 'number ten' were not with the Prime Minister, nor any Ministers either. If her influence in Westminster only reaches a middle-ranking official, it's obvious that it is non-existent.
"It’s clear from today’s session that the First Minister has no direct influence - this so called 'partnership in power' just isn't delivering, and it highlighted how this Labour Welsh Government is unable to move the dial on devolution. It will always be party before country for Labour and the First Minister. It’s time for a fresh start – a Plaid Cymru government would always be relentless in standing up for Wales."
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