Question
The Prime Minister promised to end 40 years of Thatcherite ideology, but last week’s Budget was a whimper, not a reset. A poll since the Budget found that 60% of voters believe that it merely tinkers around the edges, and in Wales we can see why—real-terms cuts loom for public services, we see a shrinking capital budget and there is no meaningful movement on rail funding. Does the Secretary of State understand why so many people in Wales feel that the Budget falls so far short of the promises talked up by his Government?
Answer
I thank the right hon. Lady for that question, but again I am not sure that those on the Opposition Benches are clear about what the Budget will deliver. In addition to all the breathing space measures, which are making a clear difference to the cost of living, we have £30 million on Cardiff Parkway railway station, £2.5 million on new funding for M-Sparc, £11 million for the Aberavon bridge and £20 million to support reindustrialisation in AI sectors, and that is on top of all the work we are doing on nuclear power at Wylfa and revitalising the Welsh steel industry. With all due respect, she too should have another look at the Budget and come back when she has got her facts straight.21% point-scoring
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The question asked whether the Secretary of State understands why people in Wales feel the Budget falls short of its promises. The reply did not engage with that question. It disputed the premise that the Opposition is unclear about the Budget, listed Welsh investments, and suggested the questioner check their facts. The answer was largely generic and defensive, so the questioner would likely need to ask again.
Verdict: RED (22/100)
The question asked whether the Secretary of State understands why people in Wales feel the Budget falls short of its promises. The reply never directly says whether the minister understands that disappointment. Instead, it disputes the Opposition's reading, lists Welsh funding commitments, and tells the questioner to check the facts. Because the answer is largely hedged and reframes the question, the person who asked it would probably need to ask again for a clear answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Secretary of State understands why many people in Wales feel that the Budget falls short of the promises made by the Government. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The item asks whether the Secretary of State understands why people in Wales feel the Budget falls short of promises. The reply never engages with that understanding or with the public perception. It disputes the premise (the Opposition is unclear about what the Budget delivers), lists Welsh investments, and tells the questioner to recheck her facts, which defends the Budget rather than addressing the item. |
| Whether the Secretary of State understands why many people in Wales feel the Budget falls far short of the promises made by the Government. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The item asks whether the Secretary of State understands why people in Wales feel the Budget falls short of promises, and the reply never says whether it does. Instead it disputes the Opposition's understanding, lists Welsh funding commitments (Cardiff Parkway, M-Sparc, Aberavon bridge, AI reindustrialisation, Wylfa, steel), and tells the questioner to check her facts. These statements engage with the Budget's effect on Wales but answer whether the Budget delivers, not whether the minister understands the public's disappointment. |