Eluned Morgan Stands Firm: No Support for Controversial Welfare Cuts Amidst Concerns for Wales

Wales’ First Minister, Eluned Morgan, has taken a firm stance against recent UK government welfare cuts proposed by Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, emphasizing her need for clarity on the impacts these changes will have on Wales before expressing support. In a session before a Senedd committee, Morgan stated she wished to “reserve my position” as she awaits a detailed response from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall regarding a Wales-specific impact assessment that she requested in March. The proposed changes include tightening eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs), which affect a significant number of working-age individuals in Wales.

Reeves, during her Spring Statement, asserted that it is unacceptable to allow a generation to become content with unemployment and misuse benefits, such as PIPs. Meanwhile, health-related Universal Credit will also see drastic cuts, freezing benefits for current claimants at lower rates until 2030, which a Department for Work and Pensions study predicts will push an additional 250,000 individuals into relative poverty across England and Wales.

Morgan acknowledged the importance of increasing employment in Wales but expressed reluctance to support the reforms without understanding their specific ramifications first. When questioned by Plaid Cymru Member Llyr Gruffydd about her stance, Morgan maintained her position of waiting for detailed information, notably declining to confirm whether she’d welcomed the changes, in contrast to claims made by Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens.

Reflecting on communication with the UK government, Morgan mentioned her interactions with the No 10 team but couldn’t recall specific individuals, which drew criticism from the opposition for lack of robust engagement with Westminster on behalf of Wales. While she previously noted a need for reform, her silence on several pointed questions brings further scrutiny about the Welsh Labour leadership’s commitment to protecting its citizens from adverse policy changes. Morgan’s hesitance and the ongoing delays in obtaining vital data may open the door for opposition parties to question her responsiveness to welfare issues affecting Wales.