The Welsh Government has been criticised for “falling short of its rhetoric” and lacking “candour” on what its proposed budget means for people in Wales.
In December 2022 the Welsh Government’s finance minister Rebecca Evans announced the draft budget for Wales for the financial year starting on April 1 2023. This was described at the time as “unlike any since the start of devolution” given the way that spiralling inflation had eroded real terms value of department budgets, energy prices had increased costs across the board and the need for social protections to shield the worst off from the cost of living crisis.
However, despite the mitigating circumstances, the Welsh Parliament’s Finance Committee has gone through the budget and, in a report, has accused the Welsh Government of not being upfront with the Welsh public about their decision making or where in society the tough decisions and prioritisations will hit.
