🎉 Big Day for Wales! 📊
Today, the Welsh Government is set to unveil vital details of the £27bn budget for 2026-27, shedding light on the future of health, education, and housing funding. Why the buzz? This is the last budget before the upcoming Senedd election in May. With Labour reeling from the recent Caerphilly by-election loss, they’ll need to buddy up with at least two other Senedd members to get it passed.
🚨 No deal? Brace yourself! The budget could plummet to 75% of this year’s level, sparking fears of “big cuts” and potential job losses. Local councils are already sounding the alarm: a 20% council tax hike or 13,000 job cuts could be on the horizon if funding sticks to the draft proposal. Finance Minister Mark Drakeford assures a near mirror image of last year’s budget, with a 2% bump for inflation. Notably, £380m remains in reserve for political wheeling and dealing.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights! 📢💬