Plaid Cymru presses UK PM for more devolution powers for Wales

Plaid Cymru MPs have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling for a constructive relationship to advance devolution to Wales.

Plaid has long campaigned for more powers over policing, the Crown Estate and rail infrastructure and these calls are outlined in this letter to the Prime Minister,

Last month, Burnham visited Wales for the first time in his capacity as Prime Minister where he made it clear that he was “open” to devolving policing to Wales, saying that now was a good time to look at the issue given the current plans of wider reforms to policing.

This point has been made repeatedly by Plaid since the Home Office announced its plans, yet were dismissed until now.

This has been reiterated in the letter, along with the conclusions of three independent commissions (Silk Commission 2014, the Thomas Commission 2019, and the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales 2024) that policing should be devolved to Wales, as it already is in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

On his visit, the Prime Minister also said that he will give a ‘fair hearing’ to the Plaid Welsh Government’s calls for the devolution of the Crown Estate.

On rail, the Prime Minister said that Welsh rail connectivity is “not as good as it should be” but did not mention any openness to devolving responsibility of rail infrastructure.

Plaid MPs state in their letter that Welsh taxpayers pay towards major rail projects in England, including HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail and East West Rail, and Wales does not receive consequential investment that should accompany such spending.

Burnham confirmed that he would honour Keir Starmer’s £14bn plan for railways in Wales. However, this pledge is unfunded with the only money having been guaranteed for Welsh rail by the UK Government is £445 million over 10 years.

Plaid Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP has said that devolving these powers “could unlock significant economic opportunities” and strengthen the “resilience and security” of communities in Wales.

She said: “We have reached out to the Prime Minister because we want a constructive relationship that allows us to work together to deliver for Wales and improve people’s lives.

“Plaid Cymru is clear that devolution is a journey, not a destination. Yet in Wales, that journey has stalled for far too long. The people of Wales gave Plaid Cymru a mandate to move our nation forward and secure the powers our communities need to thrive. That means devolving the Crown Estate, policing and justice and rail - powers that could unlock significant economic opportunities while strengthening the resilience and security of our communities.

“The Prime Minister has said he wants to see ‘good growth in every postcode’ and has placed devolution at the heart of his agenda, recognising that decisions are often best made closer to the people they affect.

“If he wants to deliver that ambition in Wales, transferring these powers would be a practical and meaningful step towards doing so. The next step is ensuring that the Prime Minister’s warm words are turned into action.”