Welsh FM tells opponents to take winter fuel payments criticism to Westminster

Eluned Morgan faced questions over the UK Government’s plans to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners during her first FMQs.

Eluned Morgan became the leader of the Welsh Labour Government in August (Matthew Horwood/Welsh Government) (PA Media)

The new First Minister of Wales told opposition parties they “should have gone into Westminster”, in a fiery exchange over cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Eluned Morgan, who became the leader of the Welsh Labour Government in August – the first woman to hold the top job – appeared before the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday for First Minister’s Questions.

She faced questions from opposition groups critical of the Westminster Labour Party’s decision to cut winter fuel payments.

The payments have been cut for millions of pensioners, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves insisting the move was necessary to help address a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances.

I understand this is a really difficult and concerning time for a lot of pensioners in Wales and people have raised that concern with me

Eluned Morgan

In a tense exchange, Baroness Morgan repeatedly told members of opposition groups they should have gone to London if they wanted to criticise the policy.

She said: “I understand this is a really difficult and concerning time for a lot of pensioners in Wales and people have raised that concern with me.

“But I think it is important to recognise that the UK Government has had to make some really difficult decisions.”

She pointed the blame at the Liz Truss government and the financial situation Labour had inherited from the Conservatives, saying the UK Government had to “clear up the mess that you left”, addressing Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Tories.

She added: “I’ll account for the actions of my government, and Keir Starmer will have to account for the actions of his government.

“I’m not going to come here week in, week out, to respond to questions that should appropriately be given to Keir Starmer.

“If you want to go and ask Keir Starmer, you should have gone into Westminster.”

She insisted there were measures in place to help those most in need.

Mr RT Davies said: “No apology, no contrition, and the figure I said to you was 400,000 Welsh pensioners will lose this assistance, this vital assistance that they require to keep themselves warm this winter.

“It is the wrong policy and the wrong choice.”

He called on the FM To write to the Prime Minister and ask for the policy to be rescinded.

Baroness Morgan was also asked by Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru, if Welsh Labour had not kept its promise to scrap the Barnett formula – the funding policy that sees money sent from the UK Government to Wales, which some argue is unfair.

She insisted the conversation on funding for the country had been started with the Chancellor and Sir Keir.

She added: “That is a conversation that we are starting, we’ll see how far we get. But I can assure you that already they are in listening mode.

“We will all have to wait until we see that budget, which will be coming up in the autumn.”