Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:43 pm on 4 October 2022.
Well, Llywydd, Delyth Jewell makes an important point. We know from independent analysis that London and the south-east will benefit from the changes that the Liz Truss Government has introduced three times more than Wales will benefit and the north of England will benefit. Let's be clear, Llywydd: this is a Government that believes in redistribution; it believes in taking money from the poor and giving it to the rich. The idea that distribution is—[Interruption.] Of course, the figures are as plain as they possibly can be, Llywydd, and just shouting, sitting there, does not alter the fact that the top 5 per cent—this is after Liz Truss was forced to abandon her decision to abolish the 45p rate of tax—of the population will still get a quarter of all the cash gains as a result of the remaining aspects of the budget package. The richest 5 per cent of households will gain 40 times more—can you imagine that, Llywydd: the richest, top 5 per cent will gain 40 times more—than the bottom fifth of the population. It is so disgraceful that it is no wonder that that party is in complete free fall in the opinion polls. And, of course, we will use all the powers we have and the capacity we have to defend people here in Wales from this onslaught.