Welsh Labour Leader Eluned Morgan has pledged to bring more jobs to West Wales if she leads the next Welsh Government. On a visit to the Port of Milford Haven today [Friday, March 27] in Pembrokeshire - the First Minister will talk of “the wealth of opportunity in West Wales” particularly in the clean energy sector.

Currently, 5,000 people in Wales are employed in the clean energy sector, with that number projected to rise by 15,000 after a number of Labour-backed projects were announced across Wales , including Wales’ first ever a floating offshore wind farm off the coast of Pembrokeshire.

Eluned Morgan, who currently represents Mid and West Wales as a regional list Welsh Labour Senedd Member, is standing to represent the new Senedd constituency of Ceredigion Penfro.

The First Minister will say: “This is personal for me. Pembrokeshire is where my family lay roots decades ago. And I want to make sure that the whole of West Wales is equipped to thrive.

“We will bring in a Rural Economic Development Plan to ensure that the jobs of the future benefit rural communities. We will back an Energy Independent Wales underpinned by the principles of good local jobs, cheaper energy bills, and benefits felt by the communities that produce that energy.

“Thousands of jobs across Wales are at risk under a Reform-led Welsh Government who would cancel clean energy projects. And under Plaid Cymru’s plans, which they’ve admitted themselves have ‘expense issues’, who is paying for that extra cost? The consumer? Or will it be paid for by cuts to public services?”

The Welsh Labour Leader also talked about the Welsh Labour Government’s support for jobs in West Wales over the last Senedd term, with more than 4,500 jobs and 800 new start-ups receiving government support through Business Wales.

In a further boost to West Wales’ economy, Welsh Labour will also go further to support those on the lowest pay in Wales. We have pledged to boost the pay packets of school support staff – the cooks, cleaners, caretakers and teaching assistants that are the backbone of our schools - by securing year-round pay for these workers, instead of only receiving pay during term-time as is the case currently. Through these plans, over 3,600 school support staff across West Wales will see a wage rise.

And in our social care sector, Welsh Labour will introduce a Fair Pay Agreement, which would secure better working conditions, set working hours and a minimum pay level of the Real Living Wage for all social care workers in Wales. This would be enshrined in law and would benefit over 11,000 social workers in West Wales.

These pledges are on top of the UK Labour Government’s boost to minimum and living wages, which benefits almost 160,000 workers in Wales and is worth over £1,400 a year to a full-time worker.

“With Welsh Labour, we will tackle the cost of living, secure the jobs of the future right here in Pembrokeshire, and deliver a fairer future with a pay-rise for the lowest earners,” adds Wales’ First Minister.