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Welsh budget: Labour and Plaid Cymru agree £119m deal | Welsh budget: Labour and Plaid Cymru agree £119m deal |
(35 minutes later) | |
Extra money for health, colleges, councils and the Welsh language has been promised after Plaid Cymru agreed a £119m deal to back Labour's budget. | Extra money for health, colleges, councils and the Welsh language has been promised after Plaid Cymru agreed a £119m deal to back Labour's budget. |
With no majority, the Welsh Government needs some opposition support to get its £15bn spending plans passed. | With no majority, the Welsh Government needs some opposition support to get its £15bn spending plans passed. |
Plaid leader Leanne Wood told BBC Wales on Monday a deal had been done. | Plaid leader Leanne Wood told BBC Wales on Monday a deal had been done. |
Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the agreement gave a "kick start" to key priorities, as he prepares to give AMs more details on Tuesday. | Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford said the agreement gave a "kick start" to key priorities, as he prepares to give AMs more details on Tuesday. |
However, the Welsh Conservatives criticised the deal, saying they were the "real opposition" to Labour. | However, the Welsh Conservatives criticised the deal, saying they were the "real opposition" to Labour. |
Budget talks took place under the post-election deal by which Plaid agreed to support Carwyn Jones's return as first minister. | Budget talks took place under the post-election deal by which Plaid agreed to support Carwyn Jones's return as first minister. |
The extra money for health includes cash to boost medical training, mental health and new diagnostic equipment. | The extra money for health includes cash to boost medical training, mental health and new diagnostic equipment. |
Nominal cuts planned for local councils - who shared a 2% budget reduction last year - have been cancelled, Plaid Cymru said. | Nominal cuts planned for local councils - who shared a 2% budget reduction last year - have been cancelled, Plaid Cymru said. |
Other measures include a feasibility study into reopening the Carmarthen-Aberystwyth rail line and quicker action on building a by-pass for Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. | Other measures include a feasibility study into reopening the Carmarthen-Aberystwyth rail line and quicker action on building a by-pass for Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire. |
Mr Drakeford hailed the budget talks as "a milestone in the maturity of Welsh politics". | Mr Drakeford hailed the budget talks as "a milestone in the maturity of Welsh politics". |
"No party has a monopoly on good ideas and we have been able to incorporate many of Plaid Cymru's spending plans into this draft budget," he said. | "No party has a monopoly on good ideas and we have been able to incorporate many of Plaid Cymru's spending plans into this draft budget," he said. |
"The budget agreement delivers a kick start to delivery for many key policies and programmes, so the people of Wales can start to see their benefits as early as possible." | "The budget agreement delivers a kick start to delivery for many key policies and programmes, so the people of Wales can start to see their benefits as early as possible." |
Plaid's shadow finance secretary Adam Price added that his party was using its role as official opposition to deliver "tangible benefits" for the people of Wales. | Plaid's shadow finance secretary Adam Price added that his party was using its role as official opposition to deliver "tangible benefits" for the people of Wales. |
"In this budget deal, we have secured the biggest one-year budget settlement in the history of the National Assembly," he said. | "In this budget deal, we have secured the biggest one-year budget settlement in the history of the National Assembly," he said. |
"This is a £119m package that will deliver and progress many of Plaid Cymru's manifesto commitments." | "This is a £119m package that will deliver and progress many of Plaid Cymru's manifesto commitments." |
However, a Welsh Conservatives spokesman said there was "little reason" to believe the budget would be any different from those which preceded it. | However, a Welsh Conservatives spokesman said there was "little reason" to believe the budget would be any different from those which preceded it. |
"All of which have categorically failed to deliver the necessary levels of education, prosperity and health for communities across Wales," he added. | "All of which have categorically failed to deliver the necessary levels of education, prosperity and health for communities across Wales," he added. |
On Monday, Ms Wood said the deal was a sign of how Plaid Cymru was cooperating with Labour, following criticism by Lord Elis-Thomas over the party's stance towards the government. | On Monday, Ms Wood said the deal was a sign of how Plaid Cymru was cooperating with Labour, following criticism by Lord Elis-Thomas over the party's stance towards the government. |
The Dwyfor Meirionnydd AM quit the party on Friday, claiming Plaid was not "serious" about working with Labour. | The Dwyfor Meirionnydd AM quit the party on Friday, claiming Plaid was not "serious" about working with Labour. |
Analysis by BBC Wales political editor Nick Servini | |
It appears to be all sweetness and light between Labour and Plaid Cymru as the Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford has grandly described their joint working on the budget as a "milestone in the maturity of Welsh politics." | |
A joint statement has been released largely outlining Plaid's policy priorities worth £119m, which will be celebrated as wins for the party as it heads to Llangollen for its annual conference on the weekend. | |
Interestingly, Plaid's Adam Price says nominal cuts to Welsh councils for next year will be cancelled. | |
Local authorities have played second fiddle to the NHS in recent years, but with council elections next spring, there has been some heavy lobbying from town hall leaders looking for a better deal before they put themselves up for re-election. | |
More from Nick |