December is a time for spirits aplenty. But has the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come visited early this year? Over in Cardiff Bay, it seems that a deal has been struck to pass a budget in the Welsh parliament. After a humiliating thumping in the Caerphilly by-election, the incumbent Labour government currently lacks a majority to push through its legislation. But now Plaid Cymru has ridden to the rescue. The two sides are believed to have sketched out an agreement, which should mean Labour avoids a defeat when their spending plans are put to a vote in January.

This is a likely precursor to what we can expect next May. Polls show that the Senedd elections are a toss up between Reform UK and Plaid Cymru as to who comes top in six months time – with Keir Starmer’s party sent to finish third in

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