Welsh leader urges Burnham to recognise Wales as a nation in devolution talks
Rhun ap Iorwerth is pressing for Welsh control over policing and justice while warning of resistance within Westminster.
Welsh first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has urged UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to treat Wales as a nation rather than an English region in discussions over further devolution.
Ap Iorwerth said initial talks with Burnham had been positive and constructive, but questioned whether Westminster was prepared to transfer additional powers. He is seeking Welsh control over policing and justice, areas Wales is the only UK nation not to control.
The Plaid Cymru leader said the case for devolving those powers had been supported by successive commissions and studies. He also pointed to Burnham’s greater control over policing when he was mayor of Greater Manchester, saying the current arrangement was not right.
Plaid Cymru holds 43 of the expanded 96 Senedd seats, while Reform UK has 34 and forms the opposition. Ap Iorwerth said his party would cooperate with Labour to prevent Reform UK from taking power, describing its politics as contrary to cooperation, tolerance and support for vulnerable people.
Ap Iorwerth has also described Wales as being on a constitutional journey whose ultimate destination could be independence, although he said there was no timetable or urgency and that the decision rested with the Welsh people. He has separately warned of a challenging financial outlook, including real-terms declines in day-to-day and capital spending.
