'Senedd must work together' - Drakeford's warning of 'catastrophic' £7bn cuts and job losses if Welsh budget fails to pass

Finance secretary Mark Drakeford has unveiled the Welsh Government's £27bn spending plans with billions of pounds for services teetering on a knife edge

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The finance secretary stressed the draft budget is the beginning of the process, not the end. Setting out what's at stake, he told the Senedd: "These are people’s pay packets; they are the accounts of local businesses; the free school meals and teaching materials in our schools; the new trains on our railways and homes in our communities.

“They are the thousands of childcare placements which look after our children; the new roof on an art gallery; the prescriptions taken every day and the new lifesaving medicines.”

The former first minister confirmed the Welsh Government would provide a “funding floor” in the draft budget, with the aim of ensuring no council receives less than a 2.3% increase.

In closing, he said: “We must work together to secure a final budget which can be passed.... It is our responsibility as elected members to secure the best possible budget for public services in Wales. To that end, I urge all members to engage with me in discussions over the coming weeks so this draft budget can lead to a final set of proposals which can be passed.”

Lee Waters, outgoing Llanelli MS, said the budget is a “serious moment for Wales”.