The rejection of a Welsh Labour Group Motion at a meeting of Powys County Council today (Thurs 23^rd Sept) seeking to commit the County Council to oppose the UK Government’s proposed £20 reduction in Universal Credit payments to families on low incomes is ‘a major blow to the people of the county and will push even more families into poverty, damage the Powys economy and increase the pressure on county council services’, according to the Council’s Welsh Liberal Democrat – Green Group.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to provide clarity on any contingency plans they have in place to deal with rapidly rising gas prices, citing the concern that many families could be pushed into fuel poverty as winter approaches.

The call comes as the price of wholesale gas has surged by 70 per cent since August putting several smaller suppliers out of business. Factors behind the surge include increased demand from a reopening economy, consumers as we head into autumn and reduced supply from Russia and Qatar combined with high demand from Asia.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have published figures showing that Powys is set to be hit hard by the Government’s decision to break its manifesto promise and suspend the triple lock on pensions after Conservative MPs voted to approve the change.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have slammed local Conservative MPs Craig Williams and Fay Jones over their choice to break their party’s manifesto promise and vote for a 1.25 per cent rise in National Insurance.

The changes, which go against the Conservatives’ manifesto promise not to raise taxes, will disproportionately hit young people low earners, and will affect hard-pressed small businesses will be left paying hundreds of pounds more in tax each year.

Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Mid & West Wales Senedd Member

Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales has criticized what she described as the “disgraceful treatment” of Gurkha veterans by the Conservatives and Downing Street.

Gurkha Veterans on hunger strike outside of Downing Street (Photo courtesy of Forces.Net)

I read Fay Jones MP’s column on the politics surrounding proposed school closures with a mixture of consternation and dismay.

Her comments are disdainful of campaigners motivated not by petty point-scoring but by the plight of children and families facing enormous upheaval during an already precarious time.

Welshpool Town Councillor Richard Church has called for an end to a dispute over a disused footpath that has put the construction of a new school on hold. Builders cannot start work on Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng on the old Maesydre site until an agreement is reached on the footpath to nowhere.

Cllr Richard Church & the old Maesydre Site.

Mid and West Wales Senedd Member (MS) Jane Dodds has taken part in today’s debate on the housing crisis in Wales calling for action on housebuilding, second homes and measures to protect the Welsh Language.

Mid & West Wales Senedd Member Jane Dodds

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of betraying farmers that placed their trust in them during the last election, as well as consumers in its trade deal with Australia.

A leaked memo from the Australian Trade Department shows that the originally proposed pledge by the British government to protect farmers for 15 years has been dropped, effectively handing tariff-free access to Australian producers to the UK and Welsh market from day one, with a “cap” on sales that is 60 times the current level of imported beef.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Mid & West Wales MS Jane Dodds

The inclusion of Powys schools on a website listing allegations of rape culture within British schools has been highlighted by Powys Liberal Democrats.

Welshpool Highschool (pictured), alongside Machynlleth and Llanfyllin were cited on the list.