Warning of sweeping cuts if £27bn Budget is not backed

MARK Drakeford has thrown down the gauntlet to opposition parties, warning failing to pass the Welsh Budget would result in cuts of up to £7bn and thousands of job losses.

- By CHRIS HAINES ICNN Senedd Reporter [e-mail]

The Welsh finance secretary dangled an olive branch, with £380m on the table to find "common priorities" with other parties to get the Welsh Government's £27bn draft Budget over the line.

Labour needs the support of at least one opposition Senedd member - and likely two depending on the Caerphilly by-election result on October 23 - to pass its 2026/27 Budget.

Failure to agree a Budget would result in public services in Wales facing sweeping cuts.

Prof Drakeford warned the Senedd: "The weeks ahead must culminate in the passing of a Budget ... every member here will have a part to play, every political party a responsibility."

In the event of no deal, the former first minister said: "Instead of me coming forward with a Budget that adds £800m into our public services, I would be coming forward with a Budget that cuts everything this Senedd does by between £6bn and £7bn."

During a debate on October 14 on the outline spending plans for the 12 months from April, Sam Rowlands, the Conservative shadow finance secretary, pointed to his party's offer of talks.