October 19, 2026 - 270 views
Wales’s First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth is calling for a new economic partnership with the UK Government, arguing that closer co-operation between Cardiff and Westminster could help attract investment, create jobs and improve growth across Wales.
The Plaid Cymru leader will set out his proposals in a speech at Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre this evening, ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Andy Burnham later this month.
He wants the two governments to spend less time duplicating programmes and more time working together on major economic opportunities, including floating offshore wind, the future of Welsh steelmaking, port development and the growth of artificial intelligence and digital industries.
But the proposals come against a longstanding backdrop of tension over devolution, with disagreements about how much control Wales should have over its own affairs and how decisions and funding should be shared between the two governments.
Mr ap Iorwerth says a successful partnership must work both ways. While the Welsh Government should engage constructively with Westminster on opportunities for growth, he argues that the UK Government must respect decisions made by the Senedd in areas where powers have already been devolved.
The issue is particularly significant because Plaid Cymru won the Senedd election earlier this year, ending Labour’s long period as the dominant party in Welsh devolved government. Mr ap Iorwerth has since pressed for further powers, including control over policing and justice, rail infrastructure and the Crown Estate.
There are reasons to believe an agreement could make progress. Mr Burnham has experience of devolved government through his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester and has spoken of his ambition to spread economic growth and give communities greater control over local decisions. He has also expressed a willingness to work co-operatively with the devolved administrations.
However, transferring power to English mayors and city regions is not necessarily the same as giving more authority to the Welsh Government. Wales already has its own parliament and government, with responsibilities that differ from those of English local and regional authorities.
There are also practical questions about what a new partnership would deliver. Major projects such as offshore wind and steelmaking can depend on decisions involving energy policy, planning, transport infrastructure, investment and skills. These responsibilities are spread across different institutions, meaning co-operation could help remove obstacles, but would not automatically guarantee funding or new jobs.
The political relationship is further complicated by Plaid Cymru’s ambition for Welsh independence. Mr ap Iorwerth has made clear that he ultimately wants Wales to have the opportunity to determine its own constitutional future, although his immediate priority is securing more powers and improving outcomes for people in Wales.
That creates a distinction between the party’s long-term destination and the practical business of governing now. A stronger relationship with Westminster could help deliver investment and give Wales more influence over its economic future without resolving the question of independence.
Supporters of the Union may argue that effective co-operation demonstrates the benefits of working together within the UK. Plaid Cymru, meanwhile, can argue that securing greater Welsh control is valuable in its own right, even if independence remains a longer-term ambition.
The immediate challenge for both governments will be turning broad commitments into concrete agreements on investment, infrastructure and economic development. The success of the proposed partnership is likely to depend on whether it produces measurable benefits for Welsh businesses, workers and communities, rather than simply a more cordial relationship between political leaders.
Mr ap Iorwerth is also expected to announce plans for a green paper on how local and regional powers are organised in Wales, to be developed before the end of the current Senedd term.
The consultation will look at how regional collaboration could be improved, with the aim of developing a new regional map and an implementation plan. The First Minister says the proposals must be shaped with local authorities, public services, regional partners and communities, rather than imposed from Cardiff.
The plans therefore address two connected questions: how Wales works with the UK Government to support economic growth, and how decisions are made within Wales itself.
For Mr ap Iorwerth, the test will be whether a more constructive relationship with Westminster can deliver tangible improvements while giving the Welsh Government greater freedom to pursue its priorities. For Mr Burnham, it will be an opportunity to demonstrate whether his commitment to devolution extends beyond English regions to the distinct constitutional position of Wales.
