Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:40 pm on 8 December 2021.
As we approach Christmas, this debate is particularly timely, and we've heard those words a lot this evening. But it reminds us of those who will go with nothing over the festive period. For these people, there will be no gifts, no feasting—there won't even be hidden parties that they can deny they attended. The best that most can hope for is a roof over their heads, enough heat to keep them warm, and enough food in their stomachs to alleviate some of the pain of hunger. As this debate notes, almost a quarter of the people of Wales live in poverty. That is a frightening indictment of the status quo in this nation in the twenty-first century. It's also a strong motivation for us to call for change, and ultimately independence, because we can do so much better than this. The people of Wales deserve better than this.