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https://www.europesays.com/uk/846979/ Independence warning: Top Labour candidate says Wales ‘£15bn better off’ in UK #Britain #GreatBritain #GŵyrAbertawe #independence #MikeHedgesMS #SeneddElection #SwanseaEast #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales #WelshIndependence #WelshLabour

Independence warning: Top Labour candidate says Wales ‘£15bn better off’ in UK

A senior Swansea politician has issued a stark warning over Welsh independence — claiming the country is currently up to £15 billion a year better off as part of the UK.

Mike Hedges says Wales benefits from significantly higher public spending than it generates in tax — with a gap he estimates at £12bn to £15bn annually, and potentially even higher.

Writing in an opinion piece for Nation Cymru, he argues that under the current system Wales receives around 10% more public spending per head than the UK average, while tax revenues per person are only about 75% of the UK level.

That imbalance, he says, is fundamental.

“If Wales were to keep its own revenues and fund its own public spending,” he suggests, “it would face a large fiscal deficit.”

He adds that the scale of the gap is comparable to the entire Welsh health budget — underlining what he sees as the economic reality of independence.

‘Stronger in a larger economy’

Hedges argues the UK’s size is a key advantage — allowing wealth to be redistributed and cushioning regions like Wales during economic shocks.

“Larger countries can more easily withstand economic storms,” he says, pointing to the role of UK-wide spending on areas such as defence, debt interest and national infrastructure.

He also suggests that any move towards fiscal autonomy would require significantly stronger economic performance in Wales before it could become viable.

Independence debate intensifies

The comments come as Plaid Cymru continues to poll strongly — with projections suggesting it could emerge as the largest party after May’s Senedd election.

Hedges’ intervention is likely to be seen as a direct challenge to that momentum — putting the economic risks of independence at the centre of the political debate.

Key seat in the spotlight

The issue is particularly significant in Swansea and Gower.

Hedges is the sitting MS for Swansea East and Labour’s top list candidate for the new Gŵyr Abertawe constituency, making him the party’s most likely candidate to be returned to the Senedd.

Under the new voting system, voters will select parties rather than individuals — with candidates elected based on their position on party lists.

Polling suggests Labour could win just one of the six seats available locally, placing added importance on Hedges’ top ranking.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart is second on the list and would likely need a stronger-than-expected Labour performance to secure a seat.

Battle lines drawn

With the election approaching, Hedges’ message draws a clear dividing line — between those pushing for greater independence and those arguing Wales is financially stronger within the UK.

And with billions of pounds — and the future direction of the country — at stake, that debate is only set to intensify.

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“Constitutional outrage”: Lee Waters and Mike Hedges join Senedd Labour revolt over UK Government funding bypass

Two prominent South West Wales politicians — Llanelli MS Lee Waters and Swansea East MS Mike Hedges — have joined a growing rebellion inside Welsh Labour over UK Government funding decisions that bypass the Senedd.

In a strongly worded letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, signed by over a third of Labour Members of the Senedd, the group accuses Westminster of using Tory-era powers to override devolved responsibilities — calling it “deeply insensitive” and “a constitutional outrage.”

“Why is Whitehall deciding where to fix bus shelters in Wales?”

At the heart of the row is the Pride in Place programme, a UK Government initiative that funds local regeneration projects — including bins, toilets and bus shelters — directly through councils, without going through the Welsh Government.

The letter slams the use of the UK Internal Market Act 2020, originally passed by the Conservatives, to impose funding decisions in areas like regeneration that are fully devolved.

“Why is the UK Government directly funding Welsh Councils to fix bus shelters, reopen park toilets, and provide bins?” the letter asks.

“For our own Government to then come in and use the very same powers to act in devolved areas is at best deeply insensitive, at worst a constitutional outrage.”

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Local voices speak out

Lee Waters, a former Welsh Government cabinet member, and Mike Hedges, one of the longest-serving MSs in the Senedd, are among 11 signatories demanding that Wales be treated as an equal part of the UK.

The group warns that the current approach undermines the Welsh Government’s authority and risks wasting public money by duplicating existing programmes.

“If this was being done by a Tory Government, we would be calling for a judicial review,” they write.

Pressure mounts on Starmer to act

The letter calls on the Prime Minister to recommit to devolving powers over rail infrastructure, policing, justice and the Crown Estate — pledges made in opposition but not yet delivered in government.

That last demand is particularly sensitive. Welsh Labour has long backed the devolution of the Crown Estate, arguing that profits from Welsh land and seabed should benefit Wales directly. But earlier this year, UK Labour ministers rejected a Commons amendment that would have transferred control, sparking anger among Senedd members and comparisons with Scotland, where the Crown Estate is already devolved.

With Llanelli MS Lee Waters and Swansea East veteran Mike Hedges among the signatories, the row has brought the issue home to South West Wales. Both have warned that bypassing the Welsh Government on regeneration projects undermines devolution and risks wasting public money.

The pressure is now firmly on Downing Street to respond — and to show whether Labour in power will deliver the reforms it promised in opposition, or face growing unrest from its own ranks in Wales.

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#CrownEstate #devolution #KierStarmer #LeeWatersMS #Llanelli #MikeHedgesMS #PrideInPlace #PrimeMinister #SwanseaEast #UKGovernment #UKInternalMarketAct2020 #UKLabour #WelshGovernment #WelshLabour

Local communities are having to pull together in preparation for the cruel winter ahead. Faith In Families support 500 families in #SwanseaEast, and are collecting donations of toys so that no one goes without on Christmas morning. #EveryoneDeservesAChristmas have more requests for hampers than ever before.

The Government must do more to support working families!

Local communities are having to pull together in preparation for the cruel winter ahead. Faith In Families support 500 families in #SwanseaEast, and are collecting donations of toys so that no one goes without on Christmas morning. #EveryoneDeservesAChristmas have more requests for hampers than ever before.

The Government must do more to support working families!

Local communities are having to pull together in preparation for the cruel winter ahead. Faith In Families support 500 families in #SwanseaEast, and are collecting donations of toys so that no one goes without on Christmas morning. #EveryoneDeservesAChristmas have more requests for hampers than ever before.

The Government must do more to support working families!