The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to provide clarity on any contingency plans they have in place to deal with rapidly rising gas prices, citing the concern that many families could be pushed into fuel poverty as winter approaches.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have published figures showing that Brecon and Radnorshire is set to be one of the hardest-hit areas of the country after the Government’s decision to break its
manifesto promise and suspend the triple lock on pensions following Conservative MPs voting to approve the change.

Jane Dodds, Welsh Liberal Democrat Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales, was among the line-up of speakers at a public meeting where Crickhowell residents shared their concerns about plans for a new Co-operative store in the town.

The event last Thursday (2^nd September), was organised by Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillor for Crickhowell John Morris, and local campaigners from the Crickhowell and District Civic Society, was held outdoors in the grounds of Crickhowell Castle and attended by almost 200 people.

Members of Powys County Council’s Welsh Lib Dem - Green group are urging people in Powys to take regular lateral flow tests to help reduce Covid spread within local communities.

"When the First Minister moved us to level 0 he gave us more freedom but also more responsibility. We can now attend more events and if double vaccinated we no longer need to self isolate if in contact with someone who has returned a positive test." commented Group leader Cllr James Gibson-Watt.

The Brecon & Radnorshire Liberal Democrats are urging the UK Government to take urgent steps to admit more refugees from Afghanistan after the rapid NATO withdrawal from the country and takeover by the Taliban.

Britain saw 457 military personnel die (including 32 from Wales) in the 20-year conflict.

2, 448 American personnel died, as well as 1, 144 from other NATO and allied countries. Approximately 69, 000 Afghan troops have been killed.

The total figure for Afghans who have died in the war is unknown, but Brown University estimates the number to stand above 100, 000.

According to the UN, between 2012 and 2021, at least five million people have been internally displaced within Afghanistan or neighbouring countries, with many millions more displaced in the past few weeks.

Jane Dodds, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales has criticized what she described as the “disgraceful treatment” of Gurkha veterans by the Conservatives and Downing Street.

Gurkha Veterans on hunger strike outside of Downing Street (Photo courtesy of Forces.Net)

Dodds comments come as a number of Gurkhas entered their 6th day of hunger strikes in front of Downing Street over the government’s refusal to grant them pensions equal to that of the British soldiers they fought alongside.

The Gurkhas, an elite group of Nepalese troops who have fought for the UK during both the World Wars and major conflicts since won their right to citizenship in 2009 after a high-profile campaign by the actress Joanna Lumley. However, those who fought for the UK before 1997 are still being paid pensions on Indian Army Rates, rather than British Army Rates like their counterparts. These rates are a fraction in comparison, not being designed for a high-income country like the UK where most Gurkha veterans now reside. Around 25,000 Gurkhas who retired before 1997 are thought to have been denied a full pension.