The Welsh First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has formally urged Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, to establish a "new deal" for Wales during his inaugural address at the Plaid Cymru annual conference in Llandudno on Friday. Ap Iorwerth emphasized that his government possesses a "clear mandate" to devolve more powers from Westminster.
Call for Equal Treatment
In his keynote speech, ap Iorwerth revealed that he had written to Burnham on Thursday, requesting a new deal to rectify the historical inequities in Wales' fiscal and constitutional arrangements. He stated that this deal should ensure that Wales is treated on an equal footing with Scotland as a minimum requirement.
“"A new deal – the first of its kind – whereby a Welsh first minister invites the UK government to genuinely treat Wales not as a region of England but as a nation in its own right," said ap Iorwerth. "A new deal to secure powers … not as an end in themselves but as a means of growing our economy and improving outcomes for everyone."
The letter, spanning 2,000 words, advocates for the transfer of powers over policing and justice, rail infrastructure, and the crown estate.
Encouraging Discussions
Ap Iorwerth expressed optimism about his initial discussions with Burnham, contrasting them with his previous interactions with Keir Starmer. However, he acknowledged that the Welsh wing of the Labour party in Westminster remains skeptical about granting more powers to Cardiff, especially since Labour no longer controls the Senedd.
