BBC Wales News political reporter David Deans has reported on First Minister Eluned Morgan’s criticism of a UK cabinet minister and fellow Welsh Labour member for suggesting she supported the chancellor’s benefit cuts. This comes after Labour Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens claimed that Morgan had “welcomed” the reforms in a recent interview with BBC Wales.
During a tense session in the Senedd, dominated by debates over changes to disability and sickness payments, Morgan expressed her frustration, stating, “I had somebody else last week trying to speak for me. I speak for myself.” A source close to the first minister confirmed that the remark was directed at Stevens, although the UK government has chosen not to comment on the matter.
Morgan’s strongest comments on the issue to date conveyed her concerns about the impact of the reforms on individuals who are “suffering” and “worried.” Despite this, she stopped short of outright condemning the cuts, opting instead to request an evaluation of the changes’ repercussions in Wales from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall.
Addressing criticism in the Senedd about the delayed response to her letter, Morgan expressed hope that the UK government would make the assessment public. The Welsh Conservative Senedd leader criticized her for lack of transparency, urging her to release the letter. Within the context of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, the reforms, including stricter eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (Pips), were highlighted, impacting over 250,000 working-age individuals in Wales
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