Ceredigion MP Ben Lake has warned that a planned increase to National Insurance will impact the lowest paid and will be used to fund and English policy.

Plaid Cymru’s Treasury spokesperson in Westminster, Mr Lake and health spokesperson in the Senedd, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, have today issued a warning that the UK Government’s plans to fund social care in England will “unfairly put the onus on working people and disproportionately impact those on the lowest income”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce plans to increase National Insurance by an expected 1.25 per cent this afternoon.

Plaid Cymru have expressed concern that National Insurance – a fully reserved tax – is being used to fund an English policy, and called for urgent clarity on the budgetary implications for Wales.

Mr Lake and Mr ap Iorwerth also said that the Welsh Government has “no more excuses to further delay its plans”, given that they had previously claimed that they would “go alone” if the UK Government’s plans were not forthcoming.

Mr Lake and Mr ap Iorwerth said in a joint statement: “While we wait to see details of these plans, we are very concerned that using ational Insurance to fund social care in England will unfairly put the onus on working people and disproportionately impact those on the lowest income.

“We are also concerned that National Insurance, a fully reserved tax, is being used to fund a policy that only impacts England. The UK Government has an urgent duty today to outline how much money Wales will receive in Barnett consequentials as a result of this policy.

“Welsh Government has previously said it was ready to ‘go alone’ if UK Government was not ready to reform social care. Now that Boris Johnson has finally announced his long-awaited plans, the Welsh Government has no more excuses to further delay its plans to solve the crisis in Wales.”