A Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd has criticised the budget settlement that he said could mean “vulnerable people are going to suffer.”

Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Local Government and Finance, was reacting in the wake of the Labour’s Government draft budget for 2024/25 being unveiled.

Speaking after quizzing Labour Finance Minister during the Finance Committee he chairs, Peredur said: “Despite the modest increase in funding, this has been a tough budget for local authorities across Wales.

“Due to the ineptitude and callousness of the Tories in Westminster – which has been compounded by the financial mismanagement of the Labour Government in Wales - councils are being asked to do more with less.

“This is why Plaid Cymru called this an unsustainable budget. Frontline services are going to come under incredible pressure and local authorities will be faced with the unenviable task of deciding which essential service to jettison.

“There is a fear that many schemes which save money in the long run, will be culled to reduce the bottom line in the short term. This could have major implications for local authorities in the long run.

“Vulnerable people – who need the help and support of their local authority – are going to suffer in the long term as a result of the budget settlement.

“I know that my Plaid Cymru colleagues leading councils across Wales will be working tirelessly to minimise the impact on residents and make the best of a difficult situation.

“This is why Plaid Cymru wants more levers of power devolved to Wales so that we can insulate ourselves better from the decisions of a UK Prime Minister that cares little for the needs of people in Wales.”

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