So after all the bluff and counter bluff of the past few months a deal to pass the Welsh budget is done and Labour First Minister Carwyn Jones must be breathing a sigh of relief that the Liberal Democrats have got him out of the hole he found himself in over his negotiations tactics.
The pupil premium is a worthy policy and sorting out school funding is important, but as Education Minister Leighton Andrew said last night on Sharp End Blaenau Gwent Council spends the most per pupil in Wales and is currently in special measures, so let’s hope the Lib Dems have got something about accountability of the extra cash in the small print of the deal and as Betsan Powys reminds us the Budget is virtually unchanged by these concessions.
Today’s news has also been seized on by Lib Dems at a UK level to try and help detoxify the brand after a bruising time in government since last May, but the question of whether it will be enough to blunt the sell outs and Tories little helpers jibes and sway welsh voters to back Kirsty and her party’s in the local elections next year is unclear, at least their candidates now have an a reply of what are they for.
As for Labour they will be pleased a deal has been done, but where this leaves their constant criticism of the UK Government and its acceptance of a second ‘ConDem policy’ the pupil premium (after Enterprise Zones) following a deal with one of the UK Coalition partners is anyone's guess, it certainly rings hollow and hardly fits the left wing radical image they like to portray but it’s doubtful it will do any long term damage mores the pity.
And how irritated will Labour members be ahead of next year’s local council elections that a deal has been done with the Lib Dems their major opponents in so many council seats?
As for Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives they may feel pretty miffed tonight at being left out of a deal, but neither should feel too bad, unless the Chancellor pulls a rabbit out of his hat next week the economy and job situation will get worse and as cuts bite the Welsh Government’s budget will come under ever more scrutiny over claims of protecting Wales. That will provide an opportunity for Plaid and the Tories to remind everyone of the issues they raised in budget negotiations the state of the economy and the funding of the health service which will certainly resonate with voters and dominate welsh political debate for the foreseeable future.Any source
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