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| Controversial Welsh budget to be passed despite criticism | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Welsh government's £14.5bn budget for next year is expected to be passed later on Tuesday with the help of the Liberal Democrats. | The Welsh government's £14.5bn budget for next year is expected to be passed later on Tuesday with the help of the Liberal Democrats. |
| Labour won the support of the Lib Dems in a deal which means more will be spent on educating poorer pupils. | Labour won the support of the Lib Dems in a deal which means more will be spent on educating poorer pupils. |
| But Plaid Cymru said the plans ignored the effects of a worsening economy and the Conservatives said the NHS is underfunded. | |
| Passing a budget is the first test of how to govern without a majority. | |
| Labour needed the help of its opponents to ratify the budget, and the agreement with the Lib Dems followed weeks of negotiations | Labour needed the help of its opponents to ratify the budget, and the agreement with the Lib Dems followed weeks of negotiations |
| Discussions | Discussions |
| Ministers lost a vote on the draft budget when opposition AMs united against them last month. | Ministers lost a vote on the draft budget when opposition AMs united against them last month. |
| An extra £20m will mean schools receive £450 for each of the more than 70,000 pupils on free school meals. | An extra £20m will mean schools receive £450 for each of the more than 70,000 pupils on free school meals. |
| The Lib Dems insist this is a one-off vote, not a sign of coalitions to come. | The Lib Dems insist this is a one-off vote, not a sign of coalitions to come. |
| It allows them to claim that they have secured a key policy from their campaign for May's assembly election. | It allows them to claim that they have secured a key policy from their campaign for May's assembly election. |
| First Minister Carwyn Jones said no other areas of spending would be cut to pay for the deal. | First Minister Carwyn Jones said no other areas of spending would be cut to pay for the deal. |
| He has also pledged to hold discussions with his Lib Dem counterpart Kirsty Williams on how to spend an additional £216m of capital funding, coming to the Welsh government as a result of spending decisions in England. | He has also pledged to hold discussions with his Lib Dem counterpart Kirsty Williams on how to spend an additional £216m of capital funding, coming to the Welsh government as a result of spending decisions in England. |
| 'Threat to jobs' | 'Threat to jobs' |
| The government also spoke to Plaid, who wanted more money to help the economy and who confirmed their members will vote against the budget on Tuesday afternoon. | The government also spoke to Plaid, who wanted more money to help the economy and who confirmed their members will vote against the budget on Tuesday afternoon. |
| Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "We simply could not support a budget that ignores the worsening effects of this economic crisis - yet that is what Labour is placing before the National Assembly today. | Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "We simply could not support a budget that ignores the worsening effects of this economic crisis - yet that is what Labour is placing before the National Assembly today. |
| "While there is a growing threat to jobs in all areas of our nation, Labour is sitting back and letting the people take the hit." | "While there is a growing threat to jobs in all areas of our nation, Labour is sitting back and letting the people take the hit." |
| The Conservatives have criticised Labour for not protecting the NHS budget against inflation, saying it amounts to a real-terms cut. | The Conservatives have criticised Labour for not protecting the NHS budget against inflation, saying it amounts to a real-terms cut. |
| Tory finance spokesman Paul Davies said: "It's become very clear that Labour's top priorities simply don't include the NHS. | Tory finance spokesman Paul Davies said: "It's become very clear that Labour's top priorities simply don't include the NHS. |
| "They bartered a deal with the Welsh Liberal Democrats which resulted in a grand total of zero in additional funding for health. | "They bartered a deal with the Welsh Liberal Democrats which resulted in a grand total of zero in additional funding for health. |
| "That's not fair on patients the length and breadth of Wales." | "That's not fair on patients the length and breadth of Wales." |