Wales’s first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has written to prime minister Andy Burnham asking for “a new deal for Wales”, with more powers transferred to Cardiff. The letter, sent on Thursday and seen by BBC Wales, lands days before ap Iorwerth delivers his first Plaid Cymru conference speech since taking office.
Five months after an historic win
Ap Iorwerth will address party members in Llandudno on Friday, five months after Plaid Cymru won the Senedd election in May for the first time, ending Labour’s 27 years of Welsh government since devolution began in 1999. In his speech he will say the election “delivered a clear mandate from the people of Wales for positive change that makes a tangible difference to their lives”.
Without a majority in Cardiff Bay, the administration is a minority government that must work with opposition members of the Senedd to pass legislation and budgets. It lost a key vote on its spending plans in July.
What ap Iorwerth wants
In a 2,000-word letter to Burnham, ap Iorwerth makes a detailed case for transferring powers over policing and justice, rail infrastructure and the Crown Estate to Wales. He also calls for “funding arrangements that are fair, needs-based and reflect Wales’ demographic and economic realities”, and says the constitutional settlement should evolve to improve democratic accountability and boost growth.
An underpinning principle of the reforms, he writes, should be that Wales is able to benefit from the same constitutional and fiscal tools already available in Scotland. That argument has taken on added weight after ap Iorwerth hosted the pro-independence first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland in Cardiff last month, where the three of them jointly declared that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”.
Burnham’s position
Burnham has previously said he would be “open” to the idea of giving the Welsh government control over policing, and that he has to respect the governments of the nations of the UK. Asked about further devolution, he said he would “give a fair hearing” to anything put to him. He has also ruled out giving Wales referendum powers on independence.
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A UK government spokesperson said: “This government is committed to building a stronger and fairer Wales in a stronger and fairer United Kingdom. That’s why our focus is now on working with the Welsh government to empower local leaders and communities to deliver good growth and jobs in every postcode.”
Why it matters
Five months into office, ap Iorwerth’s biggest test is not parliamentary arithmetic inside the Senedd but what he can extract from Westminster. A Labour government that has just lost 27 years of unbroken Welsh devolved power has every incentive to keep control of policing, justice and transport, and the prime minister has already signalled the limit by ruling out a referendum on independence.
The comparison with Scotland is the sharpest part of the pitch. As Scottish and Northern Irish first ministers, the three nationalist leaders now appear to be coordinating a joint position on Westminster sovereignty, which changes the way UK constitutional politics will be conducted if it is sustained.
What happens next
Ap Iorwerth is expected to meet Burnham, along with the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland, at the end of the month. That meeting will be the first real test of whether the “new deal” is a negotiating opening or a genuine offer. The conference speech on Friday will set out publicly what he plans to pursue if talks stall.
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