Plaid Cymru has hit out at the Welsh and UK Labour Governments for allowing Wales to be short-changed to the tune of £70 million as a result of the increase in National Insurance Contributions - slamming Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford for ‘raiding’ the Welsh reserves, without a ‘hint of criticism’ of his London counterparts.

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Finance, Senedd Member Heledd Fychan has accused the Labour Welsh Government of being “bystanders to unfairness” with Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford resorting to raiding the Welsh reserves rather than demanding that UK Labour funds Wales fairly.

She criticised Labour for “doing absolutely nothing” to address the historical unfair funding of Wales through the Barnett Formula adding that only a Plaid Cymru Government would demand action by Westminster.

Heledd Fychan MS said: “The fact that we are being short changed to the tune of £70m due to the UK Government’s National Insurance Contributions hike is just the latest example of Labour failing Wales.

“Meanwhile, the Labour Welsh Government who promised we would be led to the land of milk and honey with two Labour administrations are being nothing more than bystanders to unfairness.

“When he should be beating a path to the Chancellor’s door, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford has instead raided the Welsh reserves without a hint of criticism of his London counterparts.

“Whilst the unfair Barnett Formula remains in place, Wales will never be fairly funded. Labour have done absolutely nothing to redress this historical injustice, providing further proof that only a Plaid Cymru Government will demand action by Westminster and ensure that the UK Prime Minister – whether Labour or Tory – cannot ignore Wales’s voice.”