October 02, 2026 - 305 views
Wales’ First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth is calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to deliver a “New Deal for Wales”, including the transfer of further powers from Westminster.
Mr ap Iorwerth is expected to make the call when he addresses Plaid Cymru’s annual conference in Llandudno today, in his first conference speech since the party’s victory at May’s Senedd election.
He has also written to the Prime Minister setting out a formal request for greater powers and financial flexibility, arguing that Wales should have access to the same constitutional and fiscal tools currently available to Scotland.
Among the areas he is seeking are control over policing and justice, rail infrastructure, the Crown Estate and aspects of welfare, alongside greater flexibility over Welsh Government funding.
Mr ap Iorwerth says devolving policing and justice is particularly urgent because responsibility for public services is currently split between Cardiff Bay and Westminster.
The call comes after Mr Burnham previously said he would give a “fair hearing” to proposals for further devolution, including policing, but has ruled out giving Wales the power to unilaterally hold an independence referendum.
Mr ap Iorwerth has increasingly spoken in favour of Welsh independence in recent weeks. Last month, he joined the leaders of Scotland and Northern Ireland's devolved governments at a meeting in Cardiff where they said “Westminster’s time is coming to an end”.
He also addressed a pro-independence rally in Aberystwyth last weekend, telling supporters that Wales was ready to shape its own future.
However, his latest proposal is focused on extending the existing devolution settlement rather than immediate independence. He is expected to tell the Plaid conference that his proposed deal would address what he describes as historic constitutional and financial inequalities and put Wales on an equal footing with Scotland.
Rhun ap Iorwerth became Wales’ First Minister in May, after Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party following the Senedd election. He is the first Plaid Cymru politician to hold the office.
