Plaid Cymru has expressed strong condemnation towards the UK Government following its recent Budget announcement, accusing them of a “cynical manipulation” of the Welsh transport funding formula. Liz Saville Roberts, the party’s Westminster leader, highlighted troubling revelations from Treasury documents indicating a further decline in the share of rail funding allocated to Wales.
The Budget, presented by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, included significant financial commitments for several English rail projects. These initiatives encompass upgrades to the TransPennine Route, the creation of a new Oxford-Cambridge line, and the long-awaited extension of HS2 from Old Oak Common to London Euston. However, amidst this array of funding, there was a notable absence of announcements regarding investment in Welsh rail infrastructure.
Saville Roberts commented on this disparity, stating, “Labour is hitting the brakes on Welsh rail while England speeds ahead.” She underscored that the Labour government is exacerbating a pre-existing issue regarding funding distribution for rail projects, a situation that she claims has worsened since Labour took control.
The concerns are rooted in the Barnett formula, which determines the allocation of public expenditure in devolved nations. While Scotland and Northern Ireland benefit from a transport funding comparability factor of 95.6%, Wales has seen its factor plummet from 80.9% in 2015 to a mere 33.5% projected for 2024. The spiraling costs associated with the HS2 project—classified as an England and Wales initiative—are primarily responsible for this decline. This situation has led to increased funding for Scotland and Northern Ireland, while Wales is left without adequate support.
Saville Roberts did not spare the Welsh Secretary, Jo Stevens, from criticism. She reminded the public of Stevens’ earlier remarks, when she was the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, describing the classification of HS2 as an “England and Wales” project as “utterly illogical.” Despite this criticism, Saville Roberts noted that since assuming office, Stevens has failed to advocate for necessary adjustments to the Treasury’s funding formula, which is increasingly disadvantaging Wales.
“Labour has gone from criticizing the Tories for short-changing Wales on rail funding in 2022 to actively making the situation worse in 2024,” Saville Roberts stated. She emphasized the irony of Labour’s actions, given their prior promises of change. “It smacks of hypocrisy,” she declared, asserting that the current government has chosen to overlook Welsh rail needs in the latest Budget.
As Plaid Cymru continues to voice its discontent, the debate surrounding rail funding remains a pivotal issue in Welsh politics, with calls for a reevaluation of the financial allocations to ensure that Wales receives its fair share. The growing disparity in funding not only threatens the development of essential infrastructure but also highlights the ongoing struggle for equality in resource distribution across the UK.
