Child poverty in Wales has become a struggle to overcome, according to retiring First Minister Mark Drakeford. While Wales had previously experienced a reduction in child poverty during the first decade after devolution, progress has stagnated since 2010. Drakeford expressed disappointment in the lack of progress made and attributed the issue to a lack of Labour government in Westminster.
The issue of Welsh independence as a means of addressing child poverty was dismissed by Drakeford. Instead, he emphasized the need for a Labour government in London that could “do things differently.” Drakeford revealed his support for Sir Keir Starmer, citing the current UK Labour leader’s “remarkable” performance in a country where the “centre of political gravity is to the left of where it is across the whole of the United Kingdom.” He added that while the challenge facing Starmer was different from his own, he believed that a Labour government in the UK was necessary to address child poverty in Wales.
Drakeford recently announced his retirement as First Minister, stating that a new Welsh Labour leader would be elected prior to Easter. The timing of the announcement was surprising, given his previous plans to retire in 2024. Following his retirement, Drakeford expressed confidence in his ability to manage the challenges ahead, including the potential difficulty in finding a pint in some bars following decisions impacting the hospitality industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK government has yet to comment on Drakeford’s concerns regarding child poverty reduction in Wales
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