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FM pushes for significant NHS cash boost in budget

Reuters Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Reuters
Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan has called on the UK government to announce NHS investment in its Autumn Budget

The first minister of Wales has pushed for a "significant" boost to NHS finances to be announced in the UK government's Autumn Budget.

Eluned Morgan said she was "really keen" to see investment in the NHS in England, as that will trigger extra funds for the Welsh government to spend on its health service.

"What I’m hoping for is that social services and public services will be protected," she said of the Budget, which is set to be unveiled on 30 October.

Speaking to Wales Live, she also said the Welsh government will announce more money on Thursday to tackle NHS waiting lists - the same day the most recent data on them is set to be released.

"I’m really keen to see an injection of money for the NHS in England because we will then get a significant amount of money that will come to Wales as a consequence of that," said Ms Morgan.

On whether it would be different for Wales than the last 14 years under Conservative government, the first minister said "absolutely".

"It’s not going to be easy but I’m hoping it will set the scene and it will be very different."

Getty Images Chancellor Rachel Reeves, giving a speech at a lecturnGetty Images
Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she has now reached spending settlements with all government departments ahead of her much-anticipated Budget on 30 October

The hotly contested consequential funding from the HS2 railway line is also something the first minister is pushing for.

But, she was clear she wasn’t expecting the money to come through next month.

‘’I’m not expecting to get that in the Autumn budget but we will definitely continue to discuss with them,’’ she said.

‘’I’ve made it very clear that we think there is a fundamental unfairness with that and we’d like to see some changes on that,’’ she said.

‘’We should be in a position where we get a consequential of what’s been spent so far.’’

'I don’t think councils will go bust'

However, the funding issues facing the Welsh government are several, with many public services struggling.

One of these sticking points are the tough spot local councils have found themselves in.

The Welsh Local Government Association said funding shortfalls could "significantly impact" councils’ ability to deliver essential services.

The BBC identified a budget shortfall of at least £540m across Wales by 2026-27.

Despite this outlook, the first minister believes they are in a stronger position than in England.

‘’I don’t think councils in Wales will go bust but we have to monitor them very carefully,’’ she said.

Andrew RT Davies MS, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said: "Labour have overseen the continuous downward spiral of our Welsh NHS and since Baroness Morgan was in charge of the health service things have only gotten worse.

“Despite the millions spent and the Baroness pleading for more money from Keir Starmer, money won’t fix this issue, this crisis is down to Labour’s mismanagement of the health service."

You can see more on this on BBC Wales Live on iPlayer.