TRADE UNIONISTS held a public meeting at the Eisteddfod today with former first minister Mark Drakeford to discuss Senedd reform and the Welsh language.

Mr Drakeford, who now holds the post of Finance Secretary, was asked how next year’s enlargement of the Senedd will benefit workers.

He said that 25 years of devolution had seen Senedd lawmaking powers grow considerably, but the number of seats in the parliament had remained at 60.

“Backbenchers sit on three scrutiny committees and that makes it difficult to do the work properly,” he added.

Mr Drakeford, who also has ministerial responsibility for the Welsh language, thanked TUC Cymru for the launch of the Siarter Twf (Growth Charter) at the Eisteddfod. The charter aims to promote use of the Welsh language in workplaces.

“Speaking Welsh in the workplace will be essential to have the language used daily,” he said.

TUC Cymru host Ceri Williams asked the veteran minister about his personal beliefs in politics and whether they had changed.

“I am a socialist and remain so to this day, and came into politics to see progressive and radical policies introduced,” Mr Drakeford said.

“The opportunities for people in Wales are dependent on an unfair economic system, and when I was young, Britain had a much more equal society.

“The gap between the richest and poorest was narrower, and we must create a more equal society where that gap is narrowed again.”

Asked if the devolution settlement should be looked at and the Barnett funding formula for the devolved nations revised, he said: “We have not yet reached the end of the devolution journey, but we do need a more effective and fair union in Britain.

“But when we look at revising the Barnett formula, we must remember that Northern Ireland benefits from the current system and would not favour a reduction in their income.”

The former first minister was asked about the threat to devolution and Welsh language policies that would emerge if Reform UK wins next year’s election.

If Nigel Farage’s party wins 25 per cent of the vote, they will take roughly a quarter of the seats in the new electoral system, he explained.

But Mr Drakeford said the new system would make it difficult for one party to win power outright, so “it will be for progressive pro-devolution parties to work together.”