Senedd passes Welsh government mini-budget after Plaid-Labour deal

The Senedd has passed the Welsh government's mini-budget, nearly four months after the original version was defeated, following a deal between Plaid Cymru ministers and Labour. Under the agreement, announced in October, an extra £60m will be spent on supporting children with additional learning needs (ALN). Labour, now in opposition after heavy election losses, had rejected a £40m package spread over three years in July, with leader Ken Skates demanding £100m in the current financial year instead. By voting for the plans on Tuesday evening, Labour gave the minority Plaid government the numbers it needed. Plaid Cymru's original mini-budget also included £100m for the NHS to bring down waiting times, £55m for childcare and £40m for school repairs. That spending can now go ahead. Former Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford previously said his party had made mistakes in its summer negotiations with Plaid and suggested there was a case for accepting the money previously on offer. First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth agreed his government had learned lessons from its failure to reach a deal in July. Finance Minister Elin Jones opened the debate by recognising "the constructive discussions that have taken place in recent weeks with the Labour group". On ALN, she said: "While there have been differing views on how best to respond there has been a broad recognition that these pressures are real and require action. That shared understanding has enabled agreement to be reached." Reform's finance spokesperson, Cai Parry Jones, criticised Labour for "somehow backing this budget" despite the NAHT teaching union being in dispute with the government. "Ken, who is really pulling the strings in Welsh Labour?" he asked, suggesting Mark Drakeford's views may have been influential behind the scenes. He also called for foreign spending to be cut back. Labour's finance spokesperson, Huw Thomas, said the process of agreeing a supplementary budget had been more difficult than it should have been. But he argued Plaid had learned lessons and that Labour had secured 50% more on ALN than Plaid Cymru had put on the table in the summer. Calling for the money to be released as soon as possible, he said: "Schools cannot afford lengthy delays and bureaucratic obstacles." Welsh Conservative Peter Fox confirmed his party would vote against the budget. "We were told a Plaid Cymru government would be different," he said. "The budget just seems to be business as usual wrapped in different colours." The budget motion was passed with 54 votes in support and 39 against.