July 13, 2026 - 274 views
The Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and Clwyd MS Darren Millar has called for changes to the way public money is used in Wales, saying the Welsh Government must deliver better value for taxpayers while securing a fair funding deal for the nation.
Speaking during a Senedd debate on funding for Wales, Mr Millar said the Welsh Conservatives believe Wales should receive its fair share of funding, but argued that existing budgets must be used more effectively to improve outcomes for communities.
He also called for reform of the Barnett formula, the mechanism used to calculate changes in public spending for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, describing it as outdated.
Mr Millar said: “I’d like to make one thing absolutely clear at the outset of this debate, that the Welsh Conservatives believe that Wales should get its fair share of funding.
“We believe that the Barnett formula is beyond its shelf life; it is out of date and we need a new funding mechanism for the United Kingdom.”
He added that his party continued to support Wales receiving additional funding linked to UK Government investment in projects such as HS2.
“We've consistently argued that Wales should get consequential spending as a result of HS2 investment. We stand by that position, and we stood by that position even when there was a UK Conservative Government in Westminster.”
However, Mr Millar also warned there were risks in reopening discussions around Wales’ funding arrangements without guarantees that any changes would leave Wales better off.
He highlighted the current fiscal framework agreed between the UK and Welsh Governments, which includes a funding floor intended to protect Wales from receiving less than a certain level of funding compared with England.
Mr Millar said the current arrangements were more generous than the Barnett formula alone would have provided, referring to analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies which estimated that Wales received around £1.25 per person for every £1 per person spent on comparable devolved services in England during 2024-25.
He argued that any future review of funding arrangements needed to be approached carefully.
“There is an inherent risk in asking for a review,” he said. “I'm more interested in the real needs of the people of Wales and making sure that we put the politics aside and come to the table, with our eyes wide open, to achieve some consensus.”
The comments come amid a long-running debate over whether Wales receives adequate funding from the UK Government and whether the current system fairly reflects Wales’ needs.
The Welsh Government and other parties have repeatedly argued that Wales has historically been underfunded, including in relation to infrastructure spending. The Welsh Government has called for reform of the Barnett formula and has previously argued that Wales should receive additional funding linked to major UK Government projects, including HS2.
Plaid Cymru has also campaigned for changes to the funding system, arguing that Wales should have greater financial powers and that current arrangements do not fully address the country’s needs.
Mr Millar said he was willing to work with other parties in the Senedd to secure the best possible outcome for Wales, while ensuring taxpayers receive value for money from public spending.
