FINANCE Minister Rebecca Evans announced a £600 million package of budget cuts today as the Welsh government faces a financial black hole.

The budget shortfall of £900m is due to higher-than-expected inflation and higher pay settlements across the public sector, where the Tories in London have not passed on the extra money to match the NHS settlement in England.

“The Welsh budget is under unprecedented pressure caused by the combination of record inflation, more than a decade of austerity, and the UK government’s mismanagement of the economy,” Ms Evans said.