Our focus in Wales has always been to help families with the everyday costs they face.
Since devolution, we’ve introduced a range of universal schemes – from free prescriptions to free breakfasts for primary school pupils and free school meals, which we’ll extend to all primary school children from September.
And we support hundreds of thousands of people to pay their council tax bills and tens of thousands of small businesses with their bills.
But the cost of living crisis is unprecedented.
Prices for everyday essentials are rising every day. With another increase in the energy price cap in October, things will get harder.
We’ve announced extra help for people on pre-payment meters and for those who are not on mains gas and a £200 winter fuel payment.
We’ve provided extra support for unpaid carers, increased the fund providing emergency grants for people and, from next month, young people leaving care will receive a basic income.
This is a cost of living crisis with its roots in Tory governments, which have slashed public spending, cut benefits and failed to invest to secure energy supplies.
It’s the UK Government which can make a real difference.
The Chancellor finally changed his mind about a windfall tax on energy profits. But for many families, his latest package only just restores last year’s cuts to Universal Credit.
We need to see more action so benefits match runaway inflation and there’s a lower energy price cap for lower income households.
And we desperately need a Labour government in Westminster, working hand-in-hand with a Welsh Labour Government.
A government which really understands the cost of living crisis and is determined to mobilise the help people need.