Welsh Devolution Demand
Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth Urges UK Prime Minister for New Devolution Powers
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Ap Iorwerth said he and Burnham had discussed a constructive relationship, and that Burnham promised not to undermine Wales as a nation or bypass the Senedd; ap Iorwerth said he would hold him to that commitment.
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The devolution demand comes amid increasingly explicit independence messaging: in September, ap Iorwerth joined the leaders of Scotland’s and Northern Ireland’s devolved governments in Cardiff, where they declared that “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”; the previous weekend, he told a pro-independence rally that Wales was “ready to shape its own future.”
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Ap Iorwerth argued that Wales needed to speak with its own political voice, saying it should not be following “a script passed on from the Westminster whips’ office” or “lines to take” from another parliament; he also said Wales can feel “off grid” when the UK government talks about rewiring the state.
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Plaid Cymru did not win an outright majority and is governing as a minority administration, according to one report, which said its vulnerability was highlighted when it lost a vote on its spending plans in July.
Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth is demanding Scotland-level powers for Wales, calling for a "New Deal" that includes control over policing, justice, rail, and the Crown Estate. Channel 4 reports that ap Iorwerth made the case to Prime Minister Andy Burnham in a letter and address to Plaid Cymru's annual conference, citing his party's recent election victory as a mandate to narrow the gap between Welsh and Scottish devolution.
The demand comes as Plaid Cymru governs Wales after ending Labour's 27-year grip on power. The Guardian notes ap Iorwerth said Wales needs its own political voice and should not follow "a script passed on from the Westminster whips' office." He warned that Wales can feel "off grid" when the UK government discusses overhauling the state.
Plaid Cymru Ends Labour's Long Rule in Wales
Plaid Cymru broke Labour's 27-year stranglehold on Welsh politics in this year's Senedd elections. Daily Post reports the party is now governing as a minority administration—a position that has already proven fragile. The party lost a key vote on its spending plans in July, showing how thin its margin is in the chamber.
The Powers ap Iorwerth Wants From Westminster
Ap Iorwerth is asking for devolved control over policing, justice, rail infrastructure, and the Crown Estate—powers Scotland already holds. North Wales Pioneer reports he argues these changes would help coordinate public services, boost the economy, and improve outcomes. He says the current split between devolved and reserved services creates a barrier to effective governance.
In his letter to Burnham, ap Iorwerth highlighted that the PM promised not to undermine Wales as a nation or bypass the Senedd. Tenby Today reports ap Iorwerth said he would hold Burnham to that commitment as discussions unfold on what more autonomy might look like.
Independence Rhetoric Intensifies Alongside Devolution Push
The devolution demand is paired with increasingly explicit independence talk. In September, ap Iorwerth joined the leaders of Scotland and Northern Ireland in Cardiff and declared that "Westminster's time is coming to an end." Days before, he told a pro-independence rally that Wales was "ready to shape its own future."
This messaging suggests Plaid Cymru is using the "New Deal" as both a immediate push for greater powers and a stepping stone toward full independence. The strategy tests whether Burnham will grant substantial devolution or whether Westminster sees it as a challenge to UK unity.
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