The head of the Council, who wanted a new economic policy, supports the Labor Party’s spending plans

The chairman of the GWENT Council, who earlier this year called for a change in public spending policy, has stated that he supports the Labor Party’s economic plans.

Councilor Anthony Hunt, who is leader of the Labor Party on Torfaen Borough Council, spoke after attending the party’s Welsh general election launch in Abergavenny.

Labor leader Keir Starmer was cautious on spending commitments, but said curbing tax avoidance and eliminating loopholes for “non-citizen higher earners” who he said pay no tax in the UK, and taxes on private school fees would do well, extra cash to cover NHS waiting lists and extra teachers.

But the party’s first of six steps towards a change of government commits it to “tough spending rules” and rules out a number of tax cuts, leaving little room to find additional purchasing power, although the party says it intends to grow the economy.

In February, when Torfaen’s ruling Labor cabinet agreed its budget, Cllr Hunt criticized the cuts made by the Conservative government in Westminster, which he said had gone beyond the point where they were “damaging” public services and “the fabric of our communities”.

He said: “I believe that a change in macroeconomic policy at the level of the UK Treasury is particularly necessary to ensure a fairer future for public services, those who rely on them and those who work in them.”

After the launch of the Labor Party campaign, Councilor Hunt stated that he supported the position presented by the leader of the British Labor Party, which did not mean the change in British economic policy he was calling for.

Councilor Panteg said: “I believe that we will see changes and a sensible, adult government that believes in developing the economy and investing in public services.

“I don’t believe that any government can change the world overnight, but I do believe that we will breathe fresh air and have a Prime Minister who listens, believes in investing in public services and believes in decentralization.”

He said he saw Labour’s caution on economic policy as a case of “being honest” rather than making spending promises that can’t be delivered, and said he considered investment in schools, the NHS and social care to be his priorities.

Cllr Hunt – who chairs Welsh Labour’s ruling national executive – described Labour’s promises on devolved policy areas, which include shortening waiting lists and increasing teacher numbers, as the “complexities of devolution”.

Leader Keir Starmer said the issue of additional teachers would be a matter for the Welsh Government and that his promise was for extra money.