First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has formally requested a "new deal" for Wales from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, seeking an expansion of devolved powers to Cardiff. The request was made in a letter sent Thursday and comes as ap Iorwerth prepares to deliver his first address to Plaid Cymru members since his party took power in May's Senedd election.
Plaid Cymru achieved a historic victory in May, ending Labour's 27-year hold on government in Wales since devolution began in 1999. However, ap Iorwerth currently leads a minority administration, necessitating collaboration with opposition parties to pass legislation and budgets. The government recently faced a setback when it lost a key vote on its spending plans in July.
In his upcoming speech, ap Iorwerth is expected to emphasize the "clear mandate from the people of Wales for positive change" delivered by the election. He intends to argue that this mandate includes empowering the Senedd and the Welsh government with enhanced tools—powers, funding, and financial flexibilities—to improve public services and stimulate economic growth. A key aspect of his proposal is for Wales to gain access to the same constitutional and fiscal instruments already available to Scotland.
Ap Iorwerth's push for greater autonomy follows a recent meeting in Cardiff with the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland. The three leaders jointly stated that "Westminster's time is coming to an end."
In his detailed 2,000-word letter to Burnham, ap Iorwerth outlines specific areas for potential power transfer, including policing and justice, rail infrastructure, and the Crown Estate. He also called for funding arrangements that are "fair, needs-based and reflect Wales' demographic and economic realities." The first minister argued that Wales' constitutional framework should continue to evolve to enhance democratic accountability, foster growth, strengthen public services, and deliver better outcomes for its communities.
Ap Iorwerth is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Burnham, alongside the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland, later this month. Burnham has previously expressed openness to the idea of granting the Welsh government control over policing and has stated his commitment to respecting and fairly considering proposals from the devolved governments.