Plaid Cymru has called on the Labour Welsh Government to publish in full a letter to the first minister from the UK government's work and pensions secretary about the impact of welfare cuts in Wales.

First Minister Eluned Morgan had written to Liz Kendall on March 11 requesting a Wales-specific assessment. The Welsh Government confirmed yesterday a reply had been received but that it would not publish it.

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said that the government’s refusal to make the letter public showed they were putting “party before country”.

Wales is expected to be hit hard by Labour’s welfare reform announced during the spring statement last week.

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said: "The First Minister promised that transparency would be a 'watchword' of her government—yet when given the chance to be open about the impact of welfare cuts on Wales, she chooses secrecy instead.

"The reality is that thousands of people in Wales will be hit hard by these devastating cuts. Experts warn of rising child poverty, lower incomes, and increasing hardship for the most vulnerable in our communities - yet the First Minister refuses to publish a letter that could shed light on the full impact of these changes.

"What is the First Minister afraid of? That the evidence will confirm what we already know - that her party’s plans will hit the poorest the hardest? That her Labour colleagues in Westminster are making choices that will push more Welsh families into poverty?

“Instead of standing up for Wales, she is running away from scrutiny and putting party loyalty ahead of the people she serves.

“The First Minister must publish the letter exchange in full —without delay."