The Welsh Senedd’s composition is now Labour, 30 seats, Conservative, 14 seats, Plaid Cymru, 12 seats, Independents, 2 seats, Liberal Democrats, 1 seat and Reform UK, 1 seat.
There are 60 elected members known as AS members. There will be 96 members after the May election next year. They will represent 16 areas, each comprising of 6 AS seats.
Each one represents people in an area of 2 Parliamentary Constituency boundaries.
The First Minister is Eluned Morgan.
The majority of seats held are by parties who have cut welfare at Westminster, from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats of 2010 onwards, to the Labour Government of 2024
The Socialist Labour Party has campaigned on Welfare not Warfare, and so can pressure Westminster on its continuing military spending on the Ukraine War.
It is relevant to Wales because as long as spending on war is protected it cannot be an area of spending redirected to funding for Wales.
Plaid Cymru have the aim of Independence for Wales, until there is a referendum Yes vote victory, the Senedd has limited powers. These have been extended by voting to include;
- Raising Finance
- The NHS
- Education
- Housing
- Welsh Language and Culture
- Local Government
There is an estimated £27 billion a year funding from Westminster for Wales. Compare this to an estimated £205 billion for new Trident nuclear weapons and submarines. There is austerity in lack of services and welfare cuts in Wales.
There is a need for socialist policy to stop the draining of money through private outsourcing in the NHS and other essential services. Wales doesn’t have enough NHS resources or capacity for a population of 3,187,000 people. It needs a yearly NHS budget to build long term capacity, without being drained by the private sector. 1-in-4 people are estimated to be on waiting lists.
This spring, the BBC said;“Twelve times more mental health patients are waiting more than 18 months for treatment than those with physical health conditions “.
The pressure is to go private, while the majority wait. Dentistry is almost all privatised.
Covid has left long term health conditions, there are no services to turn to for help. From GP Surgeries to A&E waiting, resources are overstretched.
If you live in Wales and would support the Socialist Labour Party, you can contact me on 07774 136728, or email kathrinejones01@btinternet.com.
By Kathrine Jones, SLP, Wales.