AS WELSH LABOUR gathers in Llandudno this weekend for its annual conference — a showcase of speeches, announcements and photo opportunities — not everyone in Wales is in the mood to celebrate.
One critic described the event as a gathering where ministers “party like they’re doing a great job,” while ordinary people “rot on NHS waiting lists” and fear for their future on benefits. It’s a scathing summary, but it reflects a growing sense of public discontent.
Despite the upbeat messaging from the conference stage, the lived reality for many in Wales paints a starker picture. Waiting times in the Welsh NHS remain among the worst in the UK. Mental health services are stretched. Housing queues grow longer, teachers are burning out, and local councils are cutting core services just to balance their books.
Welsh ministers often point to Westminster as the root of these financial pressures — and with some justification. But critics argue that within devolved powers, the Welsh Government still controls its own spending priorities. And right now, many feel those choices aren’t working.
Yes, there are positive headlines — like the newly announced £11 million fund for Port Talbot, or pledges to create green jobs and improve skills. But for many, promises and policy launches won’t cut it. People want functioning hospitals, reliable buses and trains, affordable homes, and a government that hears them.
Political conferences are a standard part of democracy — a chance to rally the base and set out the stall. But if this weekend comes across as self-congratulation while public services continue to erode, it may do more harm than good. Optics matter — especially when many in Wales now describe the state of their country in blunt terms: “a disaster zone.”
Labour still dominates in Wales. But if it wants to keep that trust, it must confront the widening gulf between the speeches in Llandudno and the reality outside the hall. The real question isn’t just what’s being said — it’s whether the public still believe a word of it.
