Stories from Cardiff · United Kingdom

The Welsh Conservatives are planning changes to the Sustainable Farming Scheme with a focus on food security. Their manifesto proposes a five-year inflation-linked farm support budget. The plan includes an additional £100 million in funding.

Medical waiting lists in Wales have declined for the ninth month in a row. Patients now face an average wait time of no more than 16.7 weeks for treatment. Despite this reduction, waiting lists remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. The improvement follows a period of rail and public service underfunding. Officials attribute the current capacity to increased funding availability. Two-year waiting lists in Wales have decreased to 95% of the levels seen during the pandemic peak. This trend continues as part of a broader downward trajectory in healthcare delays.

The Welsh Parliament has expanded its membership from 60 to 96 seats. A new electoral system and new constituencies are being implemented for the first time. Other political parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the Conservatives. The outcome of the upcoming election remains difficult to predict due to these structural changes. The change makes predicting parliamentary majorities difficult for pollsters. Current political trends suggest a potential Labour-led government, though no other parties have ruled out coalitions with Conservatives. The new system is being applied for the first time in Wales. A Cymru-led government remains a possibility depending on polling day results.