Keir Starmer said he would defend the budget “all day long” at the Welsh Labour conference, amid protests by farmers outside the venue.
In his first address to the Welsh Labour conference since taking power, the prime minister went on to hail a “path of change” with Labour governments in Wales and Westminster.
“Make no mistake, I will defend our decisions in the budget all day long,” he said. “I will defend facing up to the harsh light of fiscal reality.
“I will defend the tough decisions that would be necessary to stabilise our economy and I will defend protecting the payslips of working people, fixing the foundations of our economy and investing in the future of Britain and the future of Wales, finally turning the page on austerity once and for all.”
However, angry farmers held a tractor protest outside the conference opposing the inheritance tax changes the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, unveiled in the budget last month.
A tractor convoy was escorted by police to Venue Cymru in Llandudno, where the conference is being held.
A tractor convoy was escorted by police to Venue Cymru in Llandudno, where the conference is being held.
Tractors at the venue in a protest against inheritance tax changes. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images
The protest organisers, Digon yw Digon, said: “Enough is enough. Our government isn’t working or listening to us. This is an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers and rural communities.
“We call on everyone to attend in solidarity – whether by walking, driving or bringing agricultural vehicles such as tractors, slurry tankers, lorries, or 4x4s with trailers.”
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‘Nail in the coffin’: family farmers respond to inheritance tax changes
Gareth Wyn Jones, a Welsh farmer and YouTuber, told Sky News that the government was “destroying” an industry that was already struggling.
He said farmers plan to deliver Starmer a letter that starts with the words “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
He said: “They’re destroying an industry that’s already on its knees and struggling, absolutely struggling, mentally, emotionally and physically. We need government support, not more hindrance, so we can produce food to feed the nation.”
He also said inheritance tax changes will result in farmers increasing the price of food, adding: “The poorer people in society aren’t going to be able to afford good, healthy, nutritious British food, so we have to push this to government for them to understand that enough is enough, the farmers can’t take any more of what they’re throwing at us.”
Meanwhile, Starmer confirmed a £160m investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire for 2025.
During a visit to Airbus in north Wales on Friday with the Welsh first minister, Eluned Morgan, Starmer said it was a “gamechanger” to have Labour governments in both Wales and Westminster.
He said communities in Wales and across the UK were ready for an exciting new era, with “Labour Wales and Labour Britain” pulling in the same direction once more and serving the people of Wales with the “full force of our union”.
Lady Morgan, who took over as the leader of Welsh Labour in August, touted the “power in partnership” between two Labour governments working together to deliver for the people of Wales.
She announced £22m to tackle NHS waiting lists in Wales, in addition to £28m already pledged, while the prime minister described the £21bn 2025 budget allocation for Wales unveiled last month as “a record figure”.
