First Minister of Wales: Building A Fairer Wales

Eluned Morgan

First Minister of Wales

In just a few weeks’ time, Wales faces a choice about the direction of our country’s future.

We in Welsh Labour have spent our time in government laying the groundwork for a fairer future for Wales, but we’ve been held back. Held back by the impact of years of Tory cuts and chaos, forcing us to make tough choices to protect the things that matter most to people. We have kept core public services standing, while those same services suffered in England.

From Constraint to Opportunity

Now, Wales is ready for a new chapter. With two Labour governments in Wales and Westminster, we have a real chance to move from simply managing imposed Tory cuts to shaping our own future.

And we’re already seeing what we can do when we work together. Historic investment in small modular reactors on Anglesey, a generational commitment of £14 billion for transformative rail projects across Wales, and the largest devolution settlement in history to enable us to invest in getting waiting lists down.

That investment is important. It enables us to make the choices that are best for Wales. But while we can work together with our UK party colleagues, we will always put our country first and stand up for Wales.

A Fairer Wales

Welsh Labour has always set its own course. That’s a different course, not just to the opposition but often to our English colleagues too. Free prescriptions, free school meals for all primary pupils, and bringing our railways back into public ownership. These were serious political choices. And they all have fairness at heart.

Fairness isn’t a slogan for us, it’s a political choice. It means standing on the side of working people, backing strong public services, and making sure no one is priced out of opportunity in the Wales they call home.

We want a Wales that works for everyone. A fair Wales for the future. That’s why if we’re re-elected, we’d bring in a £2 adult bus fare cap to go alongside our existing offer of £1 for under-21s and free travel for over 60s. We’d pass new legislation to create a School Support Staff Negotiating Body, which will fix year-round pay and access to professional learning for the teaching assistants, caretakers, and those who keep our schools running. We’d build an energy independent Wales – backing both small- and large-scale projects to ensure Wales meets its Net Zero goals, whilst providing good jobs, cheaper bills, and a fairer energy dividend.

And there is more to come. Only Welsh Labour has the ambition and the record to make that a reality.

Wales is facing a choice in May – a choice between division, decline, anger, and empty promises from other parties, or renewal and hope with the experience to drive change with Welsh Labour. Wales is at the start of a new chapter, a chapter with fairness at its heart.

This article features in the new edition of ChamberUK. Our parliamentary journal.

You can buy your copy here.

Photos courtesy of the First Minister’s office.