Scotland, Northern Ireland and even London and Manchester have control over policing – but not Wales.
Decisions about the safety of our communities shouldn’t be made in Westminster.
Labour in Wales’s ( and Labour in Westminster’s ) default position towards devolution and towards Wales and Welsh interests is NO.
Self interest and the interests of the Labour Party will always come first…
Plaid Cymru is the only party fighting for these powers to be brought into Welsh hands.
A leaked Personal Minute from the Prime Minister to Cabinet from 12 December 2025 highlights the UK Government’s contempt for devolution, the Plaid Cymru leader has said.
During today's First Minister's Questions in the Senedd (Tuesday 10th March 2026), Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS questioned the Labour First Minister over a leaked memo from the Prime Minister obtained by Plaid Cymru.
The Prime Minister gave instructions to Cabinet Members to override devolved governments, which the Plaid Cymru leader says is a "direct assault on the democratic views of devolved governments."
The Prime Minister stated "we should be confident in our ability to deliver directly in those nations, including through direct spending, even when devolved governments may oppose this."
Only a week prior, Sir Keir Starmer said he was a “big believer in devolution” following criticism from several backbench Labour Members of the Senedd after the UK Government decided to bypass Welsh Government with their “Pride in Place” scheme, despite local government funding being devolved.
Plaid Cymru leader Mr ap Iorwerth criticised the Labour Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, for being complicit and said the Labour First Minister has failed to stand up for Wales.
Speaking in the Chamber, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,
“I have here a personal memo from the Prime Minister to his Cabinet colleagues, signed by the Prime Minister, in which he actively encourages working against devolved governments if that furthers his Government’s interests. It says:
“‘..an overly deferential or laissez-faire approach to devolved government engagement almost inevitably creates political challenges or misses positive opportunities. We should be confident in our ability to deliver directly in those nations, including through direct spending, even when devolved governments may oppose this.’
“There we have it in black and white. Keir Starmer’s own version of Boris Johnson’s muscular unionism.
“Not only dealing with devolution in bad faith but undertaking a direct assault on the democratic views of devolved Governments.
“By staying ever loyal to him, the First Minister is aligning herself with efforts which undermine her own government.
“Why has the Labour party turned against devolution and why has the First Minister allowed the UK’s Labour Prime Minister to treat our Parliament, her government, and the people of Wales with such contempt?
He continued:
“When it comes to standing up for Wales, her ‘Red Welsh way’ has done nothing more than lead us up the garden path.”
“Setting aside the fact that this is clearly an overtly party political letter on headed government paper, it demonstrates beyond doubt that the loyalty of the Labour UK Prime Minister is to his party and his own government, even if his actions are deemed unacceptable by a democratically elected government in Wales.
“And the Secretary of State for Wales is complicit as the memo states that the Wales Office stands ready to assist – so you have a Welsh Secretary using her place at the cabinet table to bypass Wales.
“This memo was sent soon after Labour backbenchers here wrote to the Prime Minister to vent their anger at his attitude towards Wales. What a disdainful response to their legitimate criticisms.
“The First Minister has run out of road when it comes to apologising for and defending the Prime Minister.
“Labour is now actively working against the interests of Wales in order to protect its own self-interest. Surely she must agree with me that the Prime Minister’s attitude is contemptible.”
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Plaid Cymru in Newport has long called for a new railway station to serve Caerleon and Ponthir to be added to the original Burns Commission recommendations, which we are still waiting for, as a matter of urgency. Many people in Newport, welcomed the commitment, a few years ago, to build new railway stations at Tredegar Park, Somerton, Llanwern, and Magor.
Like many things in under a Labour in Wales government it seems to take a long time to get things done, even when there is a Labour government in Westminster. This is partially because of the lack of devolved control of network rail and transport planning and also perhaps down to the lack of any real political will to do anything save to administer an imperfect devolved devolution settlement and live with a real lack of investment in our railways.
Certainly both the Conservatives and Labour have massively under-invested in Wales. Over the last 25 years if Wales had had the same funding per head for railways as England it would have received about another £2.5 billion. However you look at - this is an enormous amount of money for a small country like Wales.
Is it any wonder that such a small percentage of the railways in Wales have been electrified;
o England 45%
o Scotland 33%
o Wales 9%
Most of the percentage for Wales has not been funded by Westminster, but by the Labour in Wales Welsh government investing in creating the South Wales Metro. Prior to this only 3.7% of Welsh railways were electrified.
Given this lack of funding from Westminster the government of Wales has had to take money from other budgets to electrify Welsh railways and buy new rolling stock. Imagine the difference £2.5 billion could have made either spent on railway investment or on schools or hospitals.
In 2020 the Labour in Wales Welsh government calculated that the underspend in Wales between 2001 and 2029 would bearound £5.1 billion on the basis of population, or £10.2 billion on the basis of route length (Wales has about 11% of total track).
Yet the current Labour in Westminster government in London is continuing to short-change Wales and make matters worse.
With expenditure over the rest of the life of this parliament of £25.3 billion announced for HS2, £15.6 billion for English regional transport (much of which will likely be spent on rail), £3.5 billion for a Trans Pennine rail route, £2.5 billion for an Oxford Cambridge route, £1.75 billion for a Midlands rail hub and £2.2 billion for Transport for London about £50 billion of railway projects in England have been announced and only £445million for Wales - less than 1%.
So spending per head in Wales will be about one sixth of that in England under the latest spending plans, with the Treasury First Secretary literally telling Wales that we should be ‘a bit more grateful’ to get even this…
Plaid Cymru in Newport and Monmouthshire has long called for our existing railway stations to be significantly upgraded as part of the process of creating a functioning South Wales metro. The Party of Wales broadly welcomed the report of the South East Wales Transport Commission which recommend ways to reduce congestion on the M4 motorway without building a new relief road around Newport.
Plaid has long called for greater investment in public transport, with a much better integration and coordination of rail and bus networks and integrated ticketing across all services – with the emphasis that it is needed sooner rather than later. Now with the prospect of a Plaid Cymru government in Cardiff, we should have a government that will consistently fight for Wales.
Plaid Cymru’s Crown Estate Wales Bill has passed its third reading (unopposed) in the House of Lords today, (20th January) this marks a symbolic victory for the long-running campaign to bring control of Welsh natural assets into Welsh hands.
The Bill was first introduced by Plaid Cymru peer Dafydd Wigley, who has argued that Wales should have the same powers as Scotland over its Crown Estate. The legislation calls on the UK Government to devolve responsibility for the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government.
The Crown Estate controls large swathes of the Welsh seabed and coastline, as well as around 50,000 acres of land, generating significant revenue that currently flows to the UK Treasury and the monarchy rather than being reinvested directly in Welsh communities.
Despite the smooth passage of the Bill through the House of Lords, the Labour Westminster Government has clearly reiterated its opposition to any devolution of control of the Crown Estates. Lord Livermore, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said ministers believe the current arrangements “provide the best outcomes for Wales and the wider United Kingdom”.
Plaid Cymru has signalled that the issue is far from settled. Llinos Medi, the MP for Ynys Môn, confirmed she will reintroduce the Bill as a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons. Whether it progresses will depend on whether the UK Government agrees to allocate parliamentary time.
Ms Medi has also pledged to table an Early Day Motion to increase pressure on ministers to allow the Bill to be debated. The move follows a failed attempt last year to amend the UK Government’s Crown Estate Bill.
Back in February 2025, Ms Medi proposed an amendment that would have given Wales parity with Scotland by devolving Crown Estate powers. The amendment was voted down, including by every Welsh Labour MP.
Since then, support for devolution has grown within Wales. All 22 local authorities have passed motions calling for the Crown Estate to be devolved, while a leaked Welsh Labour election strategy acknowledged that the party has “proudly made the case” for devolution, despite it not yet being delivered by the UK Government.
Dafydd Wigley, speaking after the Lords vote, said: “I am very pleased that this Bill, that I first introduced to the House of Lords in September 2024, has today passed its final stage. Plaid Cymru and I have consistently made the case that Welsh resources should be in Welsh hands, and I am glad to have secured support from across the House that this is the most logical way for Welsh communities to benefit from the wealth they generate.
“I now look forward to the Bill progressing to the House of Commons, where Llinos Medi will proudly present it. The UK Government should make time for the Bill’s consideration because it is what Wales deserves.
“When the Bill was passed in the Lords the government chief whip announced that ‘the King has signified his consent’, which is the normal procedure, but in the Commons the government will be pressing MPs not to make time for it. What would be really interesting would be if some Welsh Labour MPs were prepared to support it.”
Llinos Medi MP added: “The passing of this Bill in the House of Lords today ensures that the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales is firmly back on the agenda here in Westminster. It remains deeply disappointing that not a single Welsh Labour MP supported my amendment to bring these powers into Welsh hands last year.
“This was a missed opportunity to stand up for their own constituents, who would directly benefit from ensuring that the wealth generated by Wales’s natural resources is retained and reinvested in our communities, rather than continuing to be siphoned off to London.
“For far too long, wealth has been extracted from our communities in Wales, and we have very little say over how it is managed or where the profits go. This Bill presents a real opportunity to begin redressing that historic imbalance. We only need to look at Scotland, which has had full control over its Crown Estate since 2016 and since then has reinvested millions of pounds each year back into local communities. Wales deserves the same parity of power.
“It is not only Plaid Cymru calling for this either – every single council in Wales has now voted in favour of these powers being devolved, demonstrating a clear national consensus. I therefore look forward to making this case once again to the UK Government when I reintroduce this Bill to the House of Commons as a Private Members’ Bill. The UK Government should make time for it, because Wales cannot be denied control over its own resources any longer.”
Last month, the Labour in Wales Welsh Government announced it was setting up a new expert group to examine options for reforming how the Crown Estate operates in Wales. The group, which first met in December, is exploring governance, accountability and the potential devolution of powers, reflecting growing momentum behind reform.
In response to the Minister for Delivery’s comments on the devolution of rail to Wales where she stated "I'm not sure we're wanting the devolution of it," in a BBC interview this weekend, Plaid Cymru’s transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen-Griffiths MS said:
“This is an incredible admission from the Minister for Delivery that Labour in Wales don’t in fact want to see rail devolved to Wales after all.
“Westminster never have, and never will treat us fairly - our rail infrastructure has suffered from decades of neglect, and successive UK Governments have failed to deliver the fair funding Wales needs to improve its transport network.
“There’d be no u-turns with a Plaid Cymru government on this issue - along with keeping up the fight to demand the HS2 billions we’re owed, we’ll keep making the case that Wales should have full powers over its rail.”
- ENDS -
Nodiadau i’r Golygydd / Editor’s Notes
Not that long ago, if there was a budget leak then there might have been resignations, now in the run up to the budget lots of kites (ideas) are flown and various ideas appear from the ether to be be tested - before budget day - so very New Labour.
The recent debacle over income tax increases is a case in point.
A Budget that’s been rewritten in panic will not deliver for Wales. With the Chancellor removing a major proposals barely two weeks before Budget Day – something which triggered a run on UK government bonds – if nothing else this suggests that there is something seriously wrong at the heart of this Labour in Westminster Government.
Our nation needs financial and political stability and needs the ability to plan ahead. A continually reshaped Budget - changed to stop or contain Labour infighting, will not meet the needs of Welsh communities.
This is no way to run an economy, especially when devolved public services rely on predictable funding. Particularly when the uncertainty in pushes up borrowing costs, it’s our communities that pay the price.
Plaid Cymru has reiterated its call for a new fiscal settlement for Wales, including:
A budget that has been drafted in panic will always fail to deliver for Wales. Our nation needs a stable, ambitious plan shaped by Welsh priorities, not last-minute U-turns in London.
Only Plaid Cymru will fight for fairness for Wales from this Budget: fair funding, including the long-denied HS2 consequentials; a tax system that treats income from wealth fairly rather than stealth tax rises; and control over the Crown Estate so that profits generated from our natural wealth stay in Wales.
The News that the Labour in Westminster government has decided to abolish the role of Police and Crime commissioners in England and Wales (Thursday 13th November 2025) was not that unexpected, as there have been some vague hints.
While the timing of the abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioners while out of the blue, there is an opportunity to accomplish the full devolution of justice and policing to Wales.
At the moment, there are currently 41 commissioners under the system, which was introduced 12 years ago by the now former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.
Plaid Cymru has rightly long argued for the abolition of the role of Police and Crime Commissioners but called for the full devolution of justice and policing powers.
The Party strongly believes that policing should not be politically motivated, and look to the establishment of a distinct Welsh legal system and would ensure that the police in Wales would be fully accountable to the Senedd.
This would be a vital step towards building a fairer Wales and a more confident self-governing nation.
For years Labour in Wales and their political masters Labour in Westminster have seriously dragged their feet on the devolution of justice and policing for Wales, and this is despite the fact that three independent commissions all fully supporting the transfer of justice powers to Wales.
If nothing else this shows that Labour in Wales have a complete lack go ambition for Wales.
Over a quarter of a century has passed since devolution was reluctantly enacted by Tony Blair yet Wales remains the only devolved nation without its own legal system and powers of its police services, so much for standing up for Wales.
Plaid Cymru have called on the Labour in Wales Government to formally request those powers and to stop waiting for Westminster’s permission to deliver justice for all of our communities.
A Plaid Cymru government in Wales would firmly demand the powers to build a better justice system for Wales be devolved.
The Labour Government in Wales must now formally request those powers and stop waiting for Westminster’s permission to deliver justice for our communities.
A Plaid Cymru government if elected next year can be expected to stand up for Wales and will demand the powers that are needed to build a fair and effective justice system that truly serves all of our people and our nation.
No doubt the Labour in Westminster Government will expect the Labour in Wales government to help replace the Police and Crime Commissioner system in Wales – yet it has refused that same government any powers over policing in Wales.
I wonder whether the Secretary of State will now concede that the Welsh Government is actually best placed to take up control policing in Wales – and that the devolution of the entire justice system to Wales now makes the most logical sense.
Plaid Cymru MS, Mabon ap Gwynfor has criticised the Welsh Labour Government for never succeeding in hitting any of their Planned Care Recovery Plan targets.
The latest data on waiting lists have shown that the targets for decreasing waiting lists set out in the Planned Care Recovery Plan have been missed once again.
Five targets were set in the Planned Care Recovery Plan, created in 2022, to reduce or eliminate certain waits within the NHS in Wales.
The targets in the Planned Care Recovery Plan are as follows:
Mr ap Gwynfor explained how the statistics released today saw an ‘see-sawing of data [that] is completely unsustainable’. He referred to the fact that the percentage of cancer patients meeting the 62 day target had fallen this month, from 61.3% to 60.2%, both substantially below the 80% target.
The Plaid Cymru health spokesperson said Labour were at fault for ‘normalising low expectations’, by celebrating the fact that the NHS is missing ‘already diluted’ targets, such as the First Minister’s target to reduce two year waits to 8,000 by Spring 2025, after failing to eradicate them by 2022 as originally hoped in the Planned care Recovery Plan.
Mr ap Gwynfor went on to explain that Labour’s failure to reduce waiting lists are having adverse effects on the rest of the Government’s actions, with increasing amounts of money being spent on attempting to, and failing to reduce waiting lists - a total of £1.5bn in this Senedd term alone.
In response to the waiting lists announced today, Plaid Cymru health spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor, said:
"Any progress is welcomed, but this see-sawing of data is completely unsustainable. The Government's response is to put an extremely expensive sticking plaster on a very deep wound.
“The truth is that the waiting lists are a symptom of deeper problems within the health service, and until they get to grips with these problems - governance, social care, and primary care - then we will continue to see the figures see-saw up and down.
“This is why Plaid Cymru have put together comprehensive plans Co-designed by clinicians and NHS managers to tackle the waiting lists in the short term, and fix the foundations for the long term.
“The failure to meet the cancer targets again is especially concerning as we know that early treatment saves lives, which is why we need a comprehensive Cancer strategy for Wales, rather than the current muddled approach".
On the Welsh Government failing to meet any targets since first set, Mr ap Gwynfor added:
“Labour have never hit any of the targets for our NHS. Even worse, if you were to backdate the statistics to before the targets were set, they haven’t been hit for over a decade.
“Labour have had countless opportunities over decades to reduce waiting lists, but they continue to fail, even when compared against already diluted targets.
“People are waiting longer for treatment across Wales and are living in both physical and mental pain, yet Labour have attempted to normalise low expectations and are somehow claiming wins for non-existent progress.
“With over £1.5 billion spent on tackling waiting lists over this Senedd term and record numbers still waiting for treatment, it’s clear that Labour’s time is up after 26 years of failure.
“The people of Wales deserve better, they deserve an NHS fit for purpose, they deserve new leadership. 2026 offers the people of Wales the chance for new leadership under Plaid Cymru, that will take seriously the challenges faced by our NHS, for a healthier Wales.”
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