James Evans MS has voted against the Welsh Government’s budget, saying it falls woefully short in addressing the needs of the people of Mid Wales.
The vote passed with 29 members in support, and 28 against. Jane Dodds MS, regional member for Mid and West Wales, opted to abstain to give the Welsh Labour Government the numbers it needed to ultimately pass its 2025/26 budget.
This is not the first time the Welsh Lib Dems have struck a deal with the Welsh Labour Government, with Kirsty Williams MS propping up the 2016-2021 administration by taking on a ministerial role.
James Evans MS has expressed disappointment of the budget’s passing, particularly Jane Dodds MS’s decision to allow it to do so, prolonging the failure of economic mismanagement under Welsh Labour.
James Evans MS said:
“Welsh Labour’s budget falls woefully short in addressing the urgent challenges facing the people of Brecon & Radnorshire, and that’s why I voted against it. I am staggered by Jane Dodds MS’s decision to allow the budget to pass, considering she represents the region of Mid and West Wales, an area which stands to benefit very little from this new budget.
“As I’ve said previously, Jane Dodds MS has chosen to back a budget that looks good on her next leaflet rather than tackling the fundamental challenges we face in Brecon and Radnorshire. This is yet another example of political posturing rather than real leadership. Jane Dodds has chosen to prolong the failure of our public services, the mismanagement of our economy, and the wasting of hundreds of millions of pounds of public money on Senedd expansion! The Lib Dems have neglected Mid Wales yet again to prop up a failing Welsh Labour administration.
“Although specific initiatives like the Wyeside Arts Centre and Pontybat crossroads have been allocated more funding, this budget simply does not address the urgent healthcare, economic, and other significant challenges facing Brecon & Radnorshire.
“The Welsh Liberal Democrats continue to mislead their constituents. They blame the Welsh Government for not giving them enough money, yet today we see Jane Dodds allowing Labour’s failing budget to pass anyway. This agreement is a cheap date for Labour, but an expensive mistake for Wales and the people of Brecon and Radnorshire.”
