Labour have chosen to manage child poverty rather than take the necessary action to tackle it, Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams MS has said after Labour voted against Plaid Cymru’s calls to implement a child payment and a target to eradicate child poverty in Wales.

The Labour Welsh Government and Labour backbenchers voted against these measures, despite 32 per cent of children living in poverty – which is projected to reach its highest rate in 30 years at 34 per cent by 2029 according to analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

In 2016, the Labour Welsh Government scrapped its target to eradicate child poverty by 2020 and have failed again to properly challenge their colleagues in the UK Government over the cruel two-child cap affecting 11 per cent of children in Wales.

Meanwhile, Scotland is the only nation in the UK where child poverty is expected to fall after the Scottish Government take bold action through a Scottish Child Payment and have committed to effectively scrap the impact of the two-child limit from March 2026.

A Plaid Cymru government would take inspiration from Scotland to “support families” with “transformative” direct child payment to tackle increasing levels of child poverty in Wales.

Ms Williams said that the Labour Welsh Government’s decision to vote against Plaid Cymru’s calls are “disappointing”, and proves they’re failing to stand up for the most vulnerable in our communities.

Speaking after the vote, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for social justice, Sioned Williams MS said:

“Child poverty is a political choice. In voting against Plaid Cymru’s policy calls proven most effective to tackle child poverty – the Labour Welsh Government have once again chosen to manage child poverty in Wales rather than tackling it.

“This isn’t a government standing up for the most vulnerable in our communities, nor delivering on any previous ambitions to lift children out of poverty. Labour have made excuses for their lack of action instead of finding a way to deliver – meanwhile the Scottish government have just got on with the job and found a way to lift children out of poverty.

“This debate was a chance for Labour to heed our calls for a child payment and to re-commit to statutory measurable targets, for the sake of the increasing number of children going without basic necessities each day. Their lack of ambition for Wales and our young people is disappointing.

“Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru have already announced that if in government, we’d take the bold actions needed to give children the best start in life through a direct child payment to support families.

"It’s no wonder more and more people are turning to Plaid Cymru – a party with real, credible plans which will be transformative for our communities. Wales needs a positive change, which only Plaid Cymru can deliver.”