‘Reset between UK and Welsh Governments cannot be achieved unless Wales’ elected representatives respected’
Rhun ap Iorwerth tells Prime Minister that Plaid Cymru is the ‘official Welsh opposition in Westminster’ as he requests meeting
Plaid Cymru’s leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, and its new cohort of MPs have written to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to request a meeting to discuss key Welsh issues.
In the letter, Mr ap Iorwerth, together with the party’s four MPs – Liz Saville Roberts, Ben Lake, Ann Davies, and Llinos Medi – welcomed the Labour Prime Minister’s intent to “reset the relationship between the UK Government and the Welsh Government.” However, the Plaid Cymru representatives noted that this will only be achieved if the views of elected representatives in Wales are “respected.”
During the election campaign, the now Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, publicly dismissed several longstanding Welsh Labour policies, including the devolution of policing, the transfer of Barnett consequentials arising from investment in the HS2 rail project, and the devolution of the Crown Estate.
Plaid Cymru is the largest Welsh opposition to the Labour Party in Westminster following last week’s election, with the party doubling its seats from 2 to 4. The Conservatives were wiped out, including former Conservative Chief Whip Simon Hart being ousted by Plaid Cymru’s Ann Davies, and former Wales Office PPS Virginia Crosbie being defeated by Plaid Cymru’s Llinos Medi.
Ahead of a press event in London, Rhun ap Iorwerth described the reinforced Plaid Cymru group as “the official Welsh opposition in Westminster” and requested a meeting with Sir Keir at “an early opportunity.”
Rhun ap Iorwerth writes:
“Congratulations on your election success and we wish you well as you set about addressing the significant challenges that lie ahead.
“We welcome your statement of intent to reset the relationship between the UK Government and the Welsh Government, however, this cannot be achieved unless the views of elected representatives in Wales are respected.
“Where there is historical discrepancy between members of the Welsh Government and now UK Government on issues such as the devolution of the Crown Estates, the devolution of justice and policing, HS2 consequentials, and a fair funding formula for Wales, we would welcome early clarification on your position going forward.
“Wales’s ability to prosper is reliant on having the necessary funding and powers to create a fairer economy that is able to adequately resource our public services.
At the heart of this is generating high-skilled, well-paid jobs such as those currently under threat at the TATA Steel plant in Port Talbot. Having urged TATA Steel to wait for a UK Labour Government, we look forward to urgent clarity on what portion of the £3billion you have pledged to the UK steel industry will be allocated to Wales and what steps will be taken to safeguard the thousands of jobs at stake.
“The previous UK government’s lack of respect towards Wales was undoubtedly a factor in the Conservatives’ electoral demise, a salient message to any administration which takes Wales for granted.
“As the official Welsh opposition in Westminster, we look forward to an early opportunity to meet with you to discuss the aforementioned issues and to ensure that the new respect agenda between the UK Government and our nation which has been promised becomes a reality.”